HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court is set to hear on March 23 a petition contesting the demolition of homes reportedly constructed on Bhoodan land in Velugumatla village, Khammam district.
The petition was submitted by a group of 20 daily wage laborers who allege their residences were demolished by authorities on February 24. Although the case was not reviewed due to time constraints, Justice B Vijaysen Reddy acknowledged the issue after it was brought up by the petitioners’ counsel. He indicated it would be examined in depth on March 24.
The petitioners, residents of Gotilla Park in Khanapuram Haveli urban area in Khammam, expressed their disappointment over the actions of the Telangana Bhoodan Yagna Board, which dismantled structures in multiple survey numbers.
They argue that the land was allocated to them by the Bhoodan Yagna Board, with pattas issued for plots measuring 100 square yards each.
Petitioners’ Claims
According to the petitioners, revenue officials entered their homes without prior notice in February and demolished their dwellings early in the morning.
They noted that similar demolitions had occurred under previous governments, but when they approached the High Court, they received favorable orders.
The petitioners also stated that although the Bhoodan Yagna Board has been dissolved, the special chief secretary and chief commissioner of land administration acts as the authorized representative of the board and issued the demolition orders.
In January, authorities had already labeled them as encroachers on 3.07 acres of Bhoodan land and instructed revenue officials to take possession of the area.
The petitioners seek a suspension of the January proceedings and request the court to direct the state government to reconstruct the demolished houses on-site and provide compensation for the destroyed properties, with losses assessed by an advocate commissioner.
