GHMC served suspension orders on an Assistant City Planner (ACP) and a Town Planning Building Overseer (TPBO), soon after they discharged the task that they had been accused of ignoring.
ACP M. Keshav Reddy and TPBO T. Vishal were suspended for not taking action against an illegal structure in Kukatpally, after they had actually pulled it down. The corporation had to punish its employees to save its face, after being reprimanded by the High Court for its inaction.
The building in question, raised by G. Nageswar Rao and G. Narsing Rao, had permission for ground plus two floors. But the they violated all rules, and raised three more floors, over and above the permitted limit. They later began to run a women’s hostel in the premises. A complaint was made against the building on this count, and the GHMC issued notices to the errant owner. However, owing to high-level political pressure, the officials held themselves from taking action and demolishing the building, sources say.
Subsequently, the complainant approached court, and got orders that the matter be disposed of forthwith, and still faced with complacency, he filed another petition alleging contempt of court.
“The High Court has asked us to come for next hearing with action taken report with regard to the building, as well as the penal action against the erring staff,” an official confided.
Spurred to action, the two officials approached their task on Sunday, two days before the scheduled hearing, and pulled down the extra floors. They made the women hostellers vacate the premises, before carrying out the demolition. However, action was initiated against the same officials on the same day, as they were responsible for not taking timely action on the unauthorised construction.
Two other officers ACP Dhaneshwar and B.Deepika, who had earlier worked in the same area, were issued charge memos, a statement from GHMC said.