HYDERABAD: Justice T Vinod Kumar of Telangana high court on Thursday directed the state to initiate disciplinary action against revenue officials concerned for being complacent in acquiring land for the construction of Shivanna Gudem balancing reservoir at Khudabakshpally village, Marriguda mandal, Nalgonda district.
The judge remarked that the entire episode showed that the authorities were hand in glove. He issued the directions when one of the villagers, Ralla Srinivasa Chary, approached the court seeking compensation for his land that was being acquired for the project.
When the state counsel informed the court that the petitioner took up construction with permission from the gram panchayat and mandal authorities on the land even after the govt published the acquisition notification, the judge expressed anger over how the authorities could approve the construction when the notification bars any transaction on the said land parcels.
Directing the state to submit an affidavit on the action taken against the authorities, the judge posted the case for hearing after three weeks.
Srinivasa Chary filed a writ petition in the high court seeking directions for fair compensation and transparency in land acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement. “We are not against the acquisition but are requesting proper compensation,” contended Chary’s counsel. Presenting the arguments, the state counsel informed the court that Chary took up construction activity on the land after the acquisition notification was issued and has now moved the high court challenging the acquisition.
When the counsel informed that he was not allowing works to proceed, the judge questioned if there was a stay on the works. The judge also questioned the state counsel on why the state was not taking any action against the erring officials.
The judge directed the state to inform the court about the proceedings against the erring officials, while also maintaining that the petitioner cannot claim compensation in the matter.
