Telangana HC Orders Arrest of Shamirpet MPDO

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday issued non- bailable warrants against the mandal parishad development officer (MPDO) of Majidpur village in Shameerpet mandal and against the gram panchayat secretary of the same village. The court also directed Medchal- Malkajgiri district police to take appropriate steps to produce the said officers before the court on December 11.

The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Ardhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti, took the step as the authorities were neglecting court orders seeking the status report after removing illegal constructions in survey number 48 in the village. The officials had to file the status report by July 31. But, they neither furnished the status report nor had appeared before the court, despite being issued summons. Enraged by the lackadaisical attitude of the officials, the court cautioned them to face the music. The bench observed that some officials might be under the mistaken notion that could get away with anything and were not answerable to anyone.

The bench was dealing with a PIL, complaining that a portion of the said land earmarked for people belonging to weaker sections, was encroached upon by private persons, who built commercial complexes. However, the Revenue department filed a report that Survey No 40, which had an extent of acres 10-21 gts, was sown as patta land and later some portions were acquired for house sites for weaker sections. Around 35 years back, weaker sections houses were built under the Indiramma Housing scheme apart from constructing a school building. Recently one Gurram Balraj, who had 1-20 gts in the same land, constructed a hotel in an area of 0-20 gts without obtaining required permissions.

Based on the report, the High Court had in June directed the panchayat raj department to remove the illegal constructions and submit the status report.