GHMC asked to respond to plea against road laying

Justice Laxmi Narayana Alishetty of the Telangana High Court on Friday directed GHMC to file its response in a writ petition challenging proposed construction of a road through Gazette-notified Waqf land at Karwan in Hyderabad. The judge is dealing with a writ petition filed by the Telangana State Waqf Board, represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Asadullah. The petitioner is challenging the proposed construction and widening of a road through 27 acres and 30 guntas of land attached to Toli Masjid. 

The petitioner would allege that the GHMC was seeking to utilise the property without following the statutory acquisition procedure or paying compensation. The petitioner would further contend that the property was surveyed by the Survey Commissioner of Waqfs in the early 1960s and subsequently was notified as Waqf property in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette dated March 21, 1985. 

It further alleged that the authorities were proceeding with the road works despite an undertaking given before the Waqf Tribunal. The petitioner submitted that approximately Rs. 140 crore was payable as compensation for the land proposed to be utilised and the petitioner was only seeking protection of its property until compensation was paid and the requisite legal procedure was followed. 

The petitioner is seeking directions restraining the authorities from taking possession of or undertaking construction over the property without completing the statutory acquisition process.