HC seeks response from top babus on encroachments of temple lands

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Chief Secretary, principal secretary and commissioner of endowments and collectors of Mahbubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Jogulamba Gadwal, Wanaparthy and Narayanpet, seeking a response by June 13 on reasons for encroachment on temple lands by realtors.

A division bench of the High Court of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N. Tukaramji was hearing a PIL that was constituted from a letter sent by a Jadcherla resident, C. Anil Kumar, to the Chief Justice.

The petitioner attached vernacular news articles that mentioned illegal occupation on a 102.05-acre land belonging to the Venkateswara Swamy temple in Jadcherla and a 63.03-acre land by private realtors.

The petitioner also submitted to the court that the lands of Anjaneya Swamy temple of Chinna Rajamure area in Devarakadra Mandal, measuring 44 acres, were infringed on.

The petitioner informed the court that the real estate businessmen, with local politicians' support and revenue officials' connivance, were converting temple land into layouts and plots, and selling them.