Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday directed the GHMC to demolish alleged illegal structures in the city only after issuing notices to the owners and receiving explanations from them.
Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao granted an interim stay on demolition of 25 structures initiated by the authorities in the name of removal of encroachments on nalas.
Several people who were aggrieved by the demolition drive had moved the petitions as lunch motion contending that the authorities were demolishing their houses and buildings in spite of their showing approved plans and permissions issued by the authorities concerned.
Some of the petitioners said that the authorities had issued notices to vacate within 24 hours while others told the court that no notices were served on them.
The petitioners told the court as per provisions of the GHMC Act, a prior notice is supposed to be served to the owner of a structure whenever the civic body finds that the structure is unauthorised. Only after receiving an explanation from the owner of the structure, can the GHMC pass a demolition order.
While asking the authorities to follow due process of law, the judge stayed the demolitions by making it clear that this stay was applicable only to these petitioners.
