Legal Briefs | HC admits plea on merging gram panchayats, amending TG Municipalities Act

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court heard a writ plea challenging an ordinance, seeking to amend the schedule of the Telangana Municipalities Act 2019 and merging 51 gram panchayats into their respective municipalities. The panel comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao was dealing with a petition filed by G. Padmavathi and four others. The petitioners stated that they hail from villages under Shamshabad mandal, Ranga Reddy district and have served as sarpanches of respective villages. It was the case of the petitioners that respondents with the intent to merge the villages near the Outer Ring Road into municipalities under the guise of speedy development, allegedly called for a report from villagers without informing them. Counsel for petitioner Verose Sanjana argued that prior to promulgating the ordinance, no data was collected, none of the villagers were consulted nor was any details furnished that necessitated the merger of villages into a municipality. She contended that alleged speedy development as a reason for merging the villages was a ruse to serve the self-interest of the real estate industry. The petitioner contended that there was no consultative process nor any opportunity given to the persons or institutions which are vital and most affected by the merger of villages into municipalities. It was also stated that T. Prakash Goud, MLA from Rajendranagar Assembly constituency also addressed a representation stating that merger of villages into municipality will not be in the interests of the villages. Counsel alleged that calling for a report for remarks on the proposed merger of villages was just an eyewash. It also contended in the writ plea that a memo was issued on July 26 seeking the creation of a unified single urban local body by extending the jurisdiction of GHMC up to ORR is entirely outside its jurisdiction. The petitioners alleged that exercise of power by the respondents was with ulterior motives and to serve vested interests, and the ordinance is vitiated by a conscious omission to partake the interest of villagers who will be most affected. The panel after considering the submissions ordered notices to the respondents and posted the matter for further hearing.