Residents of multiple apartment complexes in Hyderabad's Erragadda area took to the streets on Saturday, staging a vigorous protest against the proposed construction of a graveyard near their homes. The protestors accused civic authorities of blatantly violating a standing Telangana High Court order by conducting preparatory work at the contested site on December 31 using JCB machinery.
Residential Zoning at the Heart of the Dispute
The aggrieved citizens, hailing from Brigade Citadel, Vasavi Brindavan, Kalpataru Residency Apartments, and neighboring communities, have been actively opposing the move. They had previously submitted a detailed representation to the Medchal Malkajgiri district collector. In it, they urged the administration to protect the residential zoning of survey numbers 78 and 79 in Fateh Nagar (Sanathnagar) and to refrain from recognizing the land for use as a burial ground.
Speaking to the media, the protesters emphasized that the land in question is officially classified as a residential zone under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Master Plan. They highlighted that the surrounding locality, comprising nearly 5,000 flats, was developed strictly according to approved zoning regulations. The Master Plan, they asserted, does not designate this site for a graveyard or burial ground.
Alleged Violation of Court Order and Legal Norms
S Venkateshwarlu, a resident of Brigade Citadel Apartments, expressed deep concern over the psychological impact the graveyard would have on local families. "Thousands of families, including children and elderly people, reside here. Locating a graveyard in the middle of a dense residential zone will cause continuous mental stress and fear," he stated. He insisted that the land is clearly marked as residential, and any attempt to alter its use violates both planning rules and the high court's stay order.
The residents presented a legal argument, noting that graveyards fall under special reservation or public and semi-public use categories. Such a use, they contended, cannot be permitted within a residential zone without a statutory land-use conversion process, public consultation, and approvals from competent authorities. They alleged that no such procedure had been followed in this instance.
G Hanumanth Rao, from Vasavi Brindavanam Apartments, clarified that their opposition is not religious but rooted in legal and civic principles. "We are not opposing any community, but we are asking the authorities to follow the law. The Master Plan does not permit a graveyard here, and the high court has already passed clear orders. Ignoring zoning regulations and court directions will set a dangerous precedent," Rao explained.
Questions Over Land Claim and Call for Enforcement
The protestors also challenged the Telangana Waqf Board's claim over the land. They argued that the Board had not established lawful title, ownership, possession, or proper survey demarcation. According to the residents, claims unsupported by registered title deeds or statutory notifications cannot justify a change in land use or its recognition as a burial ground.
C Hanumanth Naidu, a resident of Kalpataru Residency, voiced the community's distress over the work attempted despite court restrictions. "The uncertainty is causing anxiety and psychological trauma among residents. When there is a subsisting stay order, how can any work be allowed? Authorities must respect judicial orders and protect the residential character of this locality," Naidu said.
Referring to a 2019 ex parte order from the High Court, the residents pointed out that the court had categorically recorded that no graveyard existed on the land. They maintain that this order remains binding on all statutory authorities. The protestors have urgently called upon the district administration to:
- Enforce the HMDA Master Plan.
- Uphold the directives of the High Court.
- Prevent any activity that would alter the residential nature of the locality.
They stress that their demonstration is solely aimed at ensuring strict compliance with established zoning laws and judicial directions, safeguarding their neighborhood's designated character.
