The Telangana High Court has disposed of a significant public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the alleged illegal occupation of a large tract of land originally acquired for the Hyderabad international airport. The court has provided a clear path forward for the petitioner to pursue the claim with the district authorities.
Court Directs Fresh Submission with Evidence
On Monday, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin heard the PIL filed by Kukkala Krishna. The petition alleged that 97.6 acres of airport land in Mankhal village, Maheswaram mandal, Rangareddy district, had been encroached upon. The bench, however, found the initial allegations lacked the necessary specificity and material evidence regarding the exact extent and description of the encroached land.
Consequently, the court permitted the petitioner to file a fresh and detailed representation. The bench explicitly directed that this new representation must be submitted to the Rangareddy district collector within four weeks. It must include specific details and all supporting documents to substantiate the claim of encroachment.
Allegations Against Private Developer
The core of the petitioner's complaint revolves around the alleged illegal occupation by Vertex Developers LLP. Krishna claimed that this land, which was acquired for the international airport, is now under the control of the private developer. He further alleged that the developer secured construction permissions from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) by misrepresenting facts and documents.
The petitioner informed the court that despite submitting several complaints to the authorities, including one to the Rangareddy district collector in February 2024, no concrete action was taken. Through the PIL, Krishna had sought judicial directions for:
- Removal of the alleged encroachments.
- Restoration of the land to government control.
- Cancellation of two layout permits issued in 2021.
Legal Process to be Followed by Collector
While disposing of the PIL, the High Court issued specific instructions to the district collector. The bench directed that once the fresh representation is submitted, the collector must consider it in accordance with the provisions of the Land Encroachment Act, 1905.
Crucially, the court mandated that all affected parties must be given a fair opportunity to be heard before any decision is made. This ensures that the legal process is followed meticulously, balancing the claims of the petitioner with the rights of those accused of encroachment.
The disposal of the PIL shifts the immediate onus of investigation and action to the revenue administration. The petitioner now has a strict four-week deadline to compile and present a watertight case with documented evidence to the district collector, failing which the matter may not progress further.
