Telangana: HC Issued Guidelines to HYDRAA on Demolitions

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday issued a set of guidelines for the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) regarding its actions against illegal structures in Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zones.

Justice K. Lakshman said that HYDRAA must proceed strictly in accordance with the law and the procedures outlined in GO 99, dated July 19, 2024, which established the agency.

He further directed HYDRAA to consider the prima facie title of those accused of illegal encroachment and unauthorised construction before taking any action. HYDRAA must also review any permissions obtained by the alleged encroachers from authorities, including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), municipalities, and gram panchayats. The agency should ensure there is no discrimination between owners of small plots of land (e.g., 60 to 100 square yards) and those owning larger tracts (e.g., one acre or more).

The directives were issued by Justice Lakshman while hearing a petition seeking to restrain HYDRAA and other state agencies from taking action against structures at the Janwada farmhouse, which are allegedly built on FTL land.

The judge noted that these guidelines were necessary in light of criticism regarding alleged discrimination and heavy-handedness by HYDRAA officials, including its Commissioner, during demolition activities.

Additionally, the judge instructed HYDRAA to provide details of the actions it has taken so far, specifically the number of structures demolished in compliance with the established procedures.