HC directs collector to do groundwork on 28 acres under litigation in Alwal

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Saturday directed the collector of Medchal-Malkajgiri district to give occupants of 28 acres of land under litigation in Alwal village a chance to put forth their claim to the land and if found to be government land, remove encroachments within four months.

The division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Laxmi Narayana Alishetty was dealing with a batch of petitions pertaining to Survey No.s 574 to 583, including Survey No. 582 of 15.03 guntas and 583 of 12.38 guntas.

A few petitioners claimed that the land in Survey No.s 574 and 575 belonged to them, claiming acquisition of 7.2 guntas through a registered sale deed after paying consideration to their vendors. They objected to a GO issued in 2005 declaring the land to be falling outside urban land ceiling limits, claiming the government did not hear their contentions but had issued notice to a person who was the owner in 1996 and was dead at the time of the proceedings. As there was no response from the deceased, the government went ahead with its move.

In 2020, petitioners filed a PIL concerning Survey No.s 582 and 583, claiming that the collector was not protecting government land and that private parties had started construction.

While the court gave directions to the collector on Survey No.s 582 and 583 in an individual case, one Dr M. Janardhan claimed that he had purchased the land through registered sale deeds. His counsel was unable to state the date of the sale deed.

Noting the facts of the case, the court directed the collector to issue notice to every party in occupation of the land and allow them to put forth their ownership claim. If the land was found to be government land, the collector shall initiate action for removal of encroachments, the court stated.

Further, the court clarified that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the claims of the parties.