Telangana HC halts constructions on allocated land for caste associations
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday issued interim orders prohibiting any further construction on land allocated to the Kamma, Velama, Viswa Balija, Kapu, Thelaga, Vontari, Thurpukapu Sanghala Samakhya community associations in Serilingampally, Ranga Reddy district.
The court clarified that any structures already built would be subject to the final verdict, as per previous directives. The court also directed the concerned associations to refrain from commencing any new constructions on the allocated lands.
The Telangana government had earlier issued separate Government Orders (G.O. Ms No. 47) allotting five acres to two caste associations All India Velama Association and Kamma Vaari Seva Sanghala Samakhya and over six acres of prime real estate for Viswa Balija, Kapu, Thelaga, Vontari, Thurpukapu Sanghala Samakhya in Khanamet, Serilingampally mandal.
A retired professor of Kakatiya University A Vinayak Reddy and advocate Sunkara Naresh filed separate Public Interest Litigations (PILs) challenging these GOs. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara heard the petitions.
During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioners argued that the state government had allotted land to caste-based associations at a throwaway price and requested an interim stay on constructions while seeking the cancellation of the GOs. After hearing the arguments, the bench directed the state government to file their responses and posted the matter for next hearing on March 7.
