HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court gave one month’s time from Monday to the members of the Gaddiannaram Wholesale Fruit Commission Agents Association and other licensees to shift their businesses to the new market area at Batasingaram with an option to continue their business in the present market place at Kothapet until then.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy pronounced the orders in a batch of petitions, appeals and contempt cases related to shifting of the market. The court reserved its orders a fortnight ago and pronounced them on Monday.
Agreeing with the contentions of the commission agents that they should be given some breathing time to shift their businesses, the bench clearly asked them to shift from Kothapet within one month in any case, not later.
The court also directed the marketing authorities to expedite the works at the market area at Batasingaram and complete them well in advance including shifting of cold storages. It also directed the authorities to ensure establishment of a primary health centre with a doctor and basic first-aid kits, drinking water, place for canteen and toilets and other facilities.
The High Court also upheld the government decision to build a super speciality hospital at the existing market place.
However, the court also observed, “Happiness of people is the ultimate aim of a welfare state and a state would not qualify as one, unless it strives to achieve the same. We hope and trust the state government will do all that is necessary for the benefit and smooth conduct of business by the stakeholders at the makeshift place in Batasingaram village and eventually at the permanent market place in Koheda village, at the earliest possible time”.
The round of litigations increased since the Gaddiannaram Agriculture Market Committee took a decision July 3 to hand over the existing premises of the market which measure around 22 acres to the government on a proposal to build a super-specialty hospital.
Commission agents were reluctant to shift the fruit market from Kothapet. They wanted to continue at this place till the Koheda market premises, which is a full-fledged market, is fully operational. But, the state government has decided to build a super-speciality hospital in the existing market. It forced the traders to shift the market to the temporary place at Batasingaram.
Since the government declared holiday to the market and locked it in October, the court had appointed commissioners three times to know the facts about the facilities arranged at Batasingaram.
