Hyderabad: Holding that Housing Board rules would not permit allotment of its lands to any individual other than by way of public auction, the Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain an appeal.
One A. Balamani and four others residents of Ameerpet in the city moved the appeal challenging an order passed by a single judge dismissing their plea to direct the erstwhile AP Housing Board to allot 1,200 sq. yds. belonging to the Board which is adjacent to their residences.
The single judge found that the petitioners approached the Board for allotment of the land. The Board sought permission for sale of the land following which the government issued orders on August 27, 2001 permitting the sale at '5,000 per sq. yd.
The judge noted that the petitioners have paid part of sale consideration, but they did not pay the balance amount even in the extended period of time.
While holding that as per Rule 29 of the A.P. Housing Board Rules, 1959, framed under the AP Housing Board Act 1956, disposal of the property of the Board, by sale or lease, shall be by public auction, the single judge dismissed the petition.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice A.V. Sesha Sai, while dealing with the appeal, observed that the GO issued by the government needs to be set aside, as it was given contrary to the Rule 29 of the Board.
While upholding the findings of the single judge, the bench pointed out that if the government wants to allot land to the petitioners, it would have to first amend the rule.
‘No’ to stay on regularisation
The Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a petition challenging a letter issued by the TS government according permission to regularise services of 1,175 contract junior linemen (JLM) working in power distribution companies of the state.
Justice A. Ramalingeswara Rao, while dismissing a petition by T. Saidulu and 13 others of Nalgonda district seeking stay of all further proceedings relating to regularisation of contract junior linemen posts based on the letter, pointed out that the state energy department has clearly mentioned in the letter that regularisation of services was subject to outcome of the cases pending before the High Court and Supreme Court.
The petitioners alleged that the authorities have arrived at a settlement fraudulently with representatives of the unions on regularisation of JLM posts. While dismissing the plea, the judge said there was no sufficient ground in the plea to interfere in the case.
