HC Orders TG, HYDRAA to Maintain Status Quo on Bahadurguda Lands
The Telangana High Court directed the state government and HYDRAA to maintain status quo on disputed Bahadurguda lands, ordering that no changes be made to existing structures until further orders.
The Telangana High Court has ordered maintenance of status quo on structures located on disputed lands in Bahadurguda village of Shamshabad mandal in Ranga Reddy district.
Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy passed the interim order while hearing writ petitions filed by farmers, landowners and Mustang Infra Projects Private Limited, alleging attempts by HYDRAA authorities to dispossess them from private patta lands.
The court directed that no alterations be made to existing structures on the lands until further orders and said any action against the petitioners must follow due process of law. The matter has been posted to August 11.
According to the petitioners, the lands were fenced by HYDRAA as part of a larger tract of around 650 acres proposed for acquisition for the Mumbai-Hyderabad Bullet Train project.
The petitioners alleged that HYDRAA and other authorities had acted in a high-handed manner by trespassing on and interfering with their 49.04 acres of land in Survey Nos. 37, 39 to 42 and 54 of Bahadurguda village, without issuing notice or having any lawful authority.
Counsel for the petitioners submitted that officials entered the lands without prior notice, demolished structures and attempted to evict occupants.
In a separate petition by farmers and landowners, it was alleged that police and revenue officials acted in a high-handed manner on July 18, demolishing houses and detaining individuals. The petitioners also sought a CBI probe and compensation of Rs 2 crore each.
Recording the submissions, the court observed that the case involved disputed questions of title and possession and said the petitioners’ interests required protection until the respondents filed their counter-affidavits.
