No coercive steps by Revenue officials from October 17 to 25 in disputed properties: HC to government

The Telangana High Court on Friday directed the State government to instruct all the jurisdictional District Collectors, including the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), not to initiate any coercive steps against properties about which matters were pending before the courts during Dasara holidays. 

Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar of the HC passed this interim direction to be in force from October 17 to 25 while hearing a writ petition moved by way of lunch motion. A 65-year-old woman Seelam Leelavathi of Chinthagudem village in Penuballi mandal of Khammam district moved the lunch motion contending that the district revenue officials were attempting to demolish the cattle shed on her land and dispossess her of the property. 

The officials were trying to take over her property without issuing notice to her, the counsel informed the bench. The counsel submitted copies of the pattadar passbooks, extracts of the land records from Dharani portal, receipts of property tax payment and the electricity bills pertaining to the property before the bench. The advocate also told the bench that four days ago the Penuballi Village Revenue Officer, along with some villagers and husband of the local MLA came to the site and threatened to demolish the cattle shed which was built nearly two decades ago. 

While the arguments were in progress, some members of the Bar also informed the bench that attempts were being made by the Revenue officials to dispossess people of their properties entangled in legal disputes during the period of Dasara holidays, when the courts would be on vacation. Observing that appropriate orders need to be passed in such cases to protect the interests of the petitioners at large, the bench instructed the Revenue Principal Secretary to ensure no coercive steps were taken to dispossess people of their properties in such matters. 

In Leelavathi case, the judge directed the Khammam district revenue officials to maintain the status quo and adjourned the hearing to November 12.