HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court expressed displeasure over Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) commissioner for the delay in submitting the civic body’s replies in petitions and PILs filed before the court. In several cases, the GHMC failed to place affidavits submitting its contentions, even after more than sufficient time was given. In some other cases, the GHMC had not filed the affidavits even after years lapsed.
On Friday, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice N. Tukaramji was dealing with a PIL complaining dereliction of duties by the GHMC, irrigation department and the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation in restraining miscreants from filling sand along the Musi and other water bodies.
Petitioner P. Indra Prakash, a practicing advocate, also brought to the notice of the court the inaction of civic authorities, irrigation department and district administrative officers of Hyderabad and Rangareddy in removing the demolished materials and unauthorised construction starting from Vikarabad and Himayat Sagar to Hussain Sagar which are obstructing free flow of water in the rainy season. The petitioner also submitted the photos as evidence.
Earlier, the court on July 7, directed the GHMC, the home department, the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation and district collector of Hyderabad to submit their stands on the PIL. The court also directed the GHMC to submit the status report by removing all those unauthorised constructions. The report was to be placed before the court in September. But, on request, the court gave four more weeks’ time up to October. On that day also, GHMC counsel sought further time and the court agreed to it. But, when the case came for hearing on Friday, counsel for GHMC Pasham Krishna Reddy sought some more time.
With that, the CJ bench was annoyed with the negligent attitude of the civic authority but gave a last chance to file the report by January 21. The court warned the GHMC commissioner and the Hyderabad district collector as they have to be present before it on next hearing, if the report was not placed by then.Justice Satish Chandra Sharma observed that due to the delays by the GHMC, several petitions were getting on simply adjourned, which is causing waste of the court's time.
