The division bench comprising Justice V V S Rao and Justice B N Rao Nalla,while delivering its detailed order on a petition filed by land owners S B Kirloskar and 9 others who challenged the acquisition of their land for the ORR phase one,said among the influential people who were such beneficiaries were Ambati Rambabu,then chairman of APIIC,Congress leader and cement baron P Pratap Reddy,owner of the Mussadilal Jewellers,HMDAs former secretary P Venkatarami Reddy,educationist Chamakura Malla Reddy,former IAS officer K V Rao,former minister T Subbarami Reddy,Congress functionary Abid Rasool Khan and former minister Alluri Subhash Chandra Bose and others.

The bench agreed with S Ramachandra Rao,the counsel for the petitioners,who alleged mala fide intentions on the part of the authorities in taking over the land of the petitioners.However,the court did not go deeper into the issue in view of the ongoing CBI enquiry into the case.But the bench made it clear that this should not be seen as a clean chit to the beneficiaries.

The bench,which dealt with each of the contentions of the petitioners and the replies of the authorities,declared that the real purpose of the HMDA in changing the alignment from time to time was not to save the forest cover or to avoid sharp curves but only to help a few individuals.Such exercise of power is certainly mala fide and must suffer invalidation,Justice V V S Rao,said in his 55-page order.The authorities started the process of acquiring the petitioners land in 2006 and even though the matter was pending in the court by way of a challenge by the petitioners,the government displayed undue haste in taking possession of their land in 2008 only upon realisation that the time limit of two years was getting over,the bench said.

The bench brushed aside the argument of advocate general D V Sitarama Murthy who contended that the court should not interfere since the land acquisition awards were already passed.The bench observed that in the last two decades,there had been steady increase in the number of neo rich people in Hyderabad who were able to grab land in prime areas and became millionaires by exploiting their proximity to the government.They used this money to grab political positions and to multiply their wealth.Land acquisition is done for the benefit of larger society,but its now being used as a means to help some influential people.

Comment :

The court action need to be lauded. Its a known fact that HMDA changed he allignment to help out friends and relatives of those in power.  Such illegal actions need to be exposed and Govt prevented from manipulating. Incidentally the CBI enquiry is in limbo with Congress in Power.

Keyword Tags Hyderabad News,HMDA, ORR, Outer Ring Road, ORR Land Aquisition
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