Andhra Pradesh High Court Temporarily Stays Demolition Notices Issued Against Ten YSRCP Party Offices Across State
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has stayed the demolition notice issued to 10 YSRCP Party Offices across the State. On 24th June, the Municipal Corporations of the Kadapa, Guntur, Rajeshwari Nagar, Nellore, Rajamahendravaram, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Anantapur and Kurnool Districts issued demolition notices on the semi-constructed YSRCP party offices.Following this, on 26th June, a series...
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has stayed the demolition notice issued to 10 YSRCP Party Offices across the State. On 24th June, the Municipal Corporations of the Kadapa, Guntur, Rajeshwari Nagar, Nellore, Rajamahendravaram, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Anantapur and Kurnool Districts issued demolition notices on the semi-constructed YSRCP party offices.
Following this, on 26th June, a series of petitions were filed before the High Court praying to quash the notice on the ground of being arbitrary, illegal and issued without jurisdiction.
On the same day, the Court heard one such petition and granted an interim stay on the notice. On 27th June, the Bench heard all the petitions filed seeking a similar prayer.
The arguments in all the cases were similar. It was contended that the Commissioner of a Municipality is not the authorized person to issue a demolition notice and notice should be sent under the Urban Land Development Act, 1975. It was also contended that the land was allotted by the government, handed over by following due procedure, and all relevant documents were procured before developing the land with the tax was also being paid.
In such a situation, it was argued that there was no rationale to demolish the construction, without even attempting to regularize it. It was vehemently reiterated that demolishing a building cannot be authorized for minor irregularities and should only be imposed as a last resort.
The Advocate General appearing on behalf of the State argued that the issuance of a demolition notice was indicative of the due procedure being followed.
Justice B. Krishna Mohan hearing the arguments has reserved the cases for pronouncement of orders and extended the protection order granted on the 26th to all the petitioners, till the pronouncement of the judgment. He said:
"The interim order granted earlier by this Court dated 26.06.2024 is extended till the pronouncement of further orders."
WP 13249 of 2024 & Batch
YSRCP vs. State of AP & Batch
Counsel for petitioners: V R REDDY KOVVURI,HARISH KUMAR RASINENI, R YELLA REDDY, SHAGUFTA JAHAN NOOR, SAI MANOJ REDDY L,Y NAGI REDDY, Senior Counsel Veera Reddy appearing on behalf of TAGORE YADAV YARAGORLA, Advocate V SURENDRA REDDY, VIVEKANANDA VIRUPAKSHA
Counsel for Respondents: Advocate General.