Don't sell vacant flats: Hyderabad High Court to Lodha developers

Hyderabad: The High Court on Monday directed Lodha Healthy Constructions and Developers not to sell 73 vacant flats in Meridian Apartments at Kukatpally here.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili was dealing with an appeal by the firm challenging an order of a single judge who had directed it not to sell the vacant flats.

The single judge had also directed the GHMC to maintain status quo on the demolition of compound wall including any structures in Lodha Belleza and Lodha Meridian.

The bench directed that the firm should not register another 238 flats until the purchaser was given notice for registration. All registrations and sale deeds would be subject to the final outcome of the appeal, it said.

The bench said it would pass appropriate orders if the construction firm filed a sworn affidavit assuring the court that the vacant flats would not be sold and registrations of 238 flats would be only on notice from the buyers.

Mr S. Ravi, senior counsel appearing for Lodha Healthy Constructions, said that the single judge’s order was causing huge loss to the firm.

Mr C.V. Mohan Reddy, senior counsel appearing for the residents of Belleza and Meridian apartments, said if the firm was allowed to sell the vacant flats, the dispute between residents of the two apartments would continue forever.

He told the court that if the compound wall between the ventures was demolished, the privacy of Belleza residents would be affected. If the compound wall was allowed to remain, residents of Meridian would be deprived of fire safety and common facilities.

Mr Mohan Reddy said if construction firm got away after selling the vacant flats, it would lead to quarrels between residents of the two ventures.

While directing Lodha Healthy Constructions to file an affidavit, the bench adjourned the hearing.

Indrasena moves HC on giving Cabinet ranks 

TS BJP leader N. Indrasena Reddy on Monday moved the Hyderabad High Court challenging the Telangana state government for conferring Cabinet rank on advisors and special representatives and chairmen of government corporations.

The BJP leader contended that Cabinet rank cannot be conferred at the will and wish of the administration. Cabinet rank would enable chairmen, advisers and special representatives to draw various perquisites from the state exchequer, resulting in a huge loss to it.

He questioned the action of the government to conferring the Cabinet rank on advisers G. Vivek, R. Vidyasagar Rao, A.K. Goel, A. Ramakrishna, B.V. Appa Rao, K.V. Ramanachary and G.R. Reddy.

Mr Indrasena Reddy also named chairmen Devulapally Prabhakar Rao (TS Official Languages Commission); Pervaram Ramulu (TS Tourism Development Corporation); Somarapu Satyanarayana (TSRTC) and Pidamarthi Ravi (TS Scheduled Castes Co-operative Development Corporation). 

Other names on the petition were vice-chairmen Singireddy Niranjan Reddy (TS Planning Board), Prasanth Reddy (TS Drinking Water Supply Corporation Ltd), government chief whip Koppula Eshwar and special representatives K.M. Sahani, Ramachandrudu Tejavath and Dr S. Venugopalachary.

He said it would result in belittling of very expression since it applied only to ministers of state who are supposed to advice the head of the state, the Governor.

He said Article 164 (1A) of the Constitution had imposed a ceiling of 15 per cent of ministers who enjoy Cabinet rank from the total strength of the Assembly.