Telangana HC puts Telangana on notice over rehabilitation process

Hyderabad: Expressing doubts over the implementation of the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy introduced by the Telangana state government for those who were displaced by irrigation projects, the Telangana state High Court issued notices on Tuesday to the state government and the Commissioner, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, to explain their policy.

The court wanted them to file their responses to the notices within four weeks along with detailed evidence on extending R&R package to the affected
families.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A.  Rajasheker Reddy said this while hearing a plea by Prof. Gaddam Lakshman, president of the Telangana Civil Liberties Committee, questioning the non-extension of benefits to villages which will be submerged under the Mallannasagar reservoir.

The petitioner mentioned that farmers and landowners whose lands and houses have been acquired for  constructing the lift irrigation project had not yet got the R&R package benefits. Instead, cases had been foisted on the farmers and they were running around police stations to deal with the cases slapped on them.

Mr Verose Raghunath, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that contrary to the announced R&R package for aggrieved persons and families whose lands were acquired and who were translocated, the authorities were not responding to provide basic facilities.

“Apart from providing package benefits, the state is applying coercive techniques through its police against farmers who are unwilling to take the meager compensation,” the counsel said.

With these submissions, Justice Chauhan asked Additional Advocate General J. Ramachander Rao about the rehabilitation and resettlement policy and raised many doubts.

“What is the state’s rehabilitation policy… Have the authorities provided the benefits of R&R to the land losers Or is your policy a mere eyewash that exists only on paper? What did you do for those who have lost livelihoods on account of your land acquisition?" the bench asked.

At the same time, Justice Chauhan recalled the experience of his native state Rajasthan in implementation of an R&R policy.

While issuing notices, the ACJ made it clear that whatever policy the state floats in rehabilitating and resettling the affected families, it should not merely be confined to paper, but should be concrete and beneficial to them.

Cops told to consider dharna at Indira park

Hyderabad: Justice Shameem Akhter of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the Hyderabad police commissioner to consider the application of the Madiga Reservation Porata Saimiti and accord permission to hold its “maha dharna” on May 8 at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park.

While dealing with the petition by MRPS activists seeking a direction to the police to permit them to conduct the meeting, the court directed the organisers to make a fresh application before the police seeking permission.

The court clearly stated the police has the liberty to impose conditions for the maintenance of law and order before according permission for the meeting.