Hyderabad: The multi-crore land dispute in Banjara Hills between kin of the Nizam VII and Sultan-Ul-Uloom Educational Society (SUES) has surfaced yet again.
The Panjagutta police registered an FIR (first information report) on May 8 against SUES and trustees of the Muazzam Jah Trust following a complaint lodged by Ameena Marzia, granddaughter of Nizam VII Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, alleging that the SUES is in illegal possession of 24 acres of land belonging to the Trust.
SUES runs Muffakham Jah Engineering College as well as pharmacy, education and management colleges from the campus located on Road No. 3, Banjara Hills.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Nawab Zamin Ali Khan, who has general power of attorney for Ameena Marzia, Syed Ahmed Khan and Syed Hussain Ali Khan (grandsons of Prince Muazzam Jah), said that SUES had taken illegal possession of Mount Pleasant building and 24 acres in Banjara Hills belonging to the Muazzam Jah Trust. He said that members of the Trust colluded with SUES to help the latter take possession of the land illegally.
He accused AICTE and Osmania University officials of receiving kickbacks from SUES for giving approvals to run colleges year after year though the society does not possess land ownership documents, which is a prerequisite to start colleges.
He said that after the death of Muazzam Jah in 1987, the trustees were supposed to close the Trust and divide the assets among his heirs as per Sunni Muslim law as contained in the Trust deed, but they allowed the educational society to start colleges by giving away land.
He said that the city civil court and High Court had earlier given clear directions to the Trust not to alienate the land to others, but the trustees disregarded this. He said criminal proceedings against SUES and the trustees has been initiated and he will soon approach the High Court over the issue.
“We have warned the Society and trustees against alienation of land time and again. We have lodged complaints with AICTE and OU. The inquiry committees appointed by AICTE and OU found that SUES had no land ownership document.”
“They issued notices warning cancellation of college approvals. But they are getting approvals year after year. The society is bribing officials to get approvals. The government should order an inquiry into this issue to expose corruption," alleged Syed Ahmed Khan.
He added, “The trustees initially permitted SUES as a tenant to use Mount Pleasant Building and 1,000 square metres of land. But later they leased out or entered into an agreement of sale of the entire land with the society. Both entered into a criminal conspiracy to usurp the land.”
Nizam VII had set up the Trust for the benefit of his son Muazzam Jah in October 1949, which was validated under Validation Act No XXIV 1950, due to which the Trust deed has become on par with the law, Mr Khan said.
Muazzam Jah had three wives. The complainant, Ameena Marzia, is the daughter of his second wife, Razia Begum.
Mr Khan cautioned students against taking admission in SUES colleges since it will lose approval any time as it owns no land.
He urged AICTE and OU to close these colleges and accommodate students in other colleges. He said that students will be affected though it’s not their fault and the trustees should be blamed for allowing such illegal activities.
