Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has questioned HYDRAA over the demolition of compound walls at an approved housing society in Medchal-Malkajgiri district.
Justice NV Shravan Kumar prima facie observed that the demolitions at Vani Cooperative Housing Society could amount to contempt of court.
The court questioned whether officials were “running a parallel government” by carrying out demolitions without proper verification, authority or supporting records.
The proceedings relate to the demolition of compound walls around plots in Survey Nos. 194/1 and 211 on July 18. The petitioners claimed the structures were demolished without prior notice.
The Medchal-Malkajgiri Collector and tahsildars of Alwal and Malkajgiri appeared before the court. They told the court that they had not issued any letters or directions authorising the demolitions.
Telangana HC Seeks Report on HYDRAA Demolitions
The court questioned under whose authority the demolitions were carried out. It also said officials could not act arbitrarily in the name of protecting government land without proper verification.
The court further questioned how HYDRAA concluded that the disputed land belonged to the government when government surveyors had not participated in the exercise.
Government Pleader Katram Muralidhar Reddy submitted that Survey No. 194 covered 12 acres of patta land. He said four acres had allegedly vested in the government under urban land ceiling laws.
However, the court noted that the records did not show that notices had been served on the petitioners as required.
The court also questioned why HYDRAA had not filed a counter in the contempt proceedings.
Justice Shravan Kumar noted that court orders had existed since 2022. He observed that the demolitions carried out without appropriate orders appeared, prima facie, to constitute contempt.
HYDRAA informed the court that around 30 to 40 demolitions had been carried out in the Malkajgiri area.
The High Court directed the Medchal-Malkajgiri Collector to submit a detailed report. The report must include details of the relevant court orders and permissions connected with the demolitions.
The court also directed the Registry to issue notices in the suo motu contempt proceedings. Further proceedings will determine whether the demolitions violated existing court orders or legal procedures.
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