Telangana High Court Directs State Government to Respond in Land Acquisition Challenge
In a significant development, the Telangana High Court has issued a directive to the state government, ordering it to file its counters in a petition filed by a 98-year-old woman and 30 other individuals. The petition challenges the land acquisition process for a critical stretch of the greenfield radial road project, which aims to connect the Outer Ring Road at Meerkhanpet to the Regional Ring Road at Amangal in Rangareddy district.
Justice NV Shravan Kumar Issues Directions During Hearing
Justice NV Shravan Kumar issued these directions while presiding over the hearing of the petition. The legal challenge contests a notification for the acquisition of a substantial 554.34 acres of land. This land spans across multiple villages, including Kurmidda village in Yacharam mandal, Kadthal and Mudwin villages in Kadthal mandal, and Amangal and Akuthotapally villages in Amangal mandal.
Allegations of Procedural Violations Under Land Acquisition Act
The petitioners have raised serious allegations against the acquisition process, claiming it was initiated without adhering to the mandatory procedures outlined in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act. A key contention is the failure to grant them a personal hearing, which is a legal requirement under the act.
They have urged the court to declare the proceedings as illegal, arbitrary, mala fide, and unsustainable. The petitioners further contended that not only were they denied a personal hearing regarding their objections, but their objections were also summarily rejected without proper consideration.
Petitioners Seek Protection from Dispossession
Apprehending imminent dispossession from their properties, the petitioners have sought the setting aside of the acquisition proceedings concerning their lands. These lands collectively measure up to 61.24 acres across various survey numbers within the affected areas.
State's Response and Advocate General's Submissions
Appearing on behalf of the state government, Advocate General A Sudarshan Reddy presented the state's position. He submitted that out of the total 554.34 acres earmarked for acquisition, approximately 200 acres are currently under dispute. He also informed the court that compensation has already been awarded for about 26 acres of the land in question.
The Advocate General urged the court not to impose a stay on the ongoing acquisition process. Instead, he proposed that the court could consider taking an undertaking from the government. This undertaking would assure that the petitioners would not be dispossessed from their lands until a formal compensation award is passed, providing a measure of temporary security for the landowners.
Case Adjourned for Further Hearing
The matter has been officially posted for a subsequent hearing after the conclusion of the court vacation. This adjournment allows the state government time to prepare and file its detailed counters, addressing the allegations raised by the petitioners. The court's directive underscores the judicial scrutiny applied to large-scale infrastructure projects, ensuring that legal procedures and landowners' rights are rigorously upheld.
