Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has ordered the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to demolish illegal buildings within three weeks and collect demolition costs from the building owners.
The HC said it was not enough to drill a hole in the ceiling of an illegal building, but that the entire structure should be demolished. The HK issued a clear guideline to the Zonal Commissioners of the GHMC. The HC bank, consisting of Chief Justice Hema Kohli and Judge Vijaysen Reddy, expressed their dissatisfaction with the report submitted by the Zonal commissioners.
Three Zone Commissioners told the HC that the illegal buildings had been identified. However, the HC said that a mere identification of illegal buildings is not enough, and that they should take action against such buildings. The HK also instructed the lower courts to expedite the cases concerning illegal buildings.
The zonal commissioners of Kokatpally, Secunderabad and Khairtabad said in their report to the court that about 140 illegal buildings have been identified in each zone. The legal counsel informed the HC that most illegal building owners had obtained residence orders from the Supreme Court and civil courts. The HK said that such cases should be expedited without delay.
Source: The Siasat Daily