Telangana High Court Declines Interim Relief in Velugumatla Demolition Case
The Telangana High Court, in a significant ruling on Wednesday, refused to grant interim relief or impose a stay on the ongoing large-scale demolition and rehabilitation exercise at Bhoodan lands in Velugumatla village, Khammam district. Justice B Vijaysen Reddy, presiding over the case, observed that any judicial intervention at this stage could adversely affect numerous eligible poor beneficiaries who are slated to receive housing benefits.
Petitions Filed by Displaced Families
The court was hearing petitions filed by families displaced during the demolition drive carried out on February 24. These petitioners sought legal recourse after losing their homes in the government-led exercise. During the proceedings, the court directed the state government to submit a detailed counter-affidavit and scheduled the next hearing for April 15.
Government's Submission on Beneficiary Status
The government pleader for revenue presented written instructions outlining the current status of the petitioners. According to the submission, several affected individuals have already been identified and approved for house site allotments. Additionally, sanctions have been granted under the Indiramma housing scheme to provide formal housing support.
However, the applications of five petitioners were rejected on the grounds that they already own houses. The claims of the remaining petitioners are still under active consideration, though the government noted that their names did not appear in the official list of those whose houses were demolished during the drive.
Allotment Details and Legal Challenges
The government pleader further informed the court that authorities have granted 311 pattas (land deeds) to individuals affected by the demolition. Of these, 101 beneficiaries have already received sanctions under the Indiramma Indlu programme, which aims to provide affordable housing to the underprivileged.
On the opposing side, counsel for the petitioners raised critical legal objections. They argued that the land in question constitutes Bhoodan land, a category of property donated for charitable redistribution. According to their contention, only the secretary of the Bhoodan board holds the legal authority to issue pattas for such properties.
The petitioners also challenged the validity of the current allotments, asserting that pattas issued under the Telangana Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act, 1977, are not legally sustainable in this specific context.
Acknowledgment of Clerical Error and Court's Final Observations
In response to these concerns, the government pleader acknowledged a clerical error in the initial issuance of pattas, where an incorrect Government Order (GO) was cited. The pleader assured the court that necessary corrections have since been implemented to rectify this administrative oversight.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Reddy made several key observations. The court noted that while the petitioners have questioned the entire allotment process undertaken by the revenue department, some among them have already agreed to accept the allotted plots. Recognizing that allotments have been made to several beneficiaries and others remain under consideration, the court held that staying the process at this juncture would not serve the interests of justice.
The matter was subsequently adjourned, with the next hearing set for April 15, allowing time for the government to file its detailed counter-affidavit and for further legal deliberations.
