HMDA cannot raze Errum Manzil: Telangana High Court

Hyderabad: The Deccan Archaeological & Cultural Research Institute on Tuesday submitted that the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority had no discretionary powers to overrule the decisions of the Heritage Conservation Committee in making alterations or repairs or changes to heritage buildings and precincts.

Mr Nalin Kumar, counsel for institute officer K. Jitendra Babu, was arguing before the division bench comprising Chief Justice Raghaven-dra Singh Chauhan and Justice Shameem Akther which is dealing with eight PILs and a writ petition urging a direction to the state government not to demolish Errum Manzil. He said the state had not followed the directions of the High Court which were issued in 2015 to constitute the Heritage Conservation Committee in a petition challenging the demolition of the chest hospital.

The court asked counsel to clarify whether Regulation 13 (which provides a scheme of identification, conservation, preservation of heritage and historical buildings) has been continued in the Master Plan of 2031, even after its repeal in 2015 from the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority Zoning Regulations.

The hearing was adjourned to Wednesday.