Telangana High Court Restrains Centre From Taking Coercive Action Against Occupants Of 'Enemy Property' In Miyapur Village

The Telangana High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to not take any coercive action against the people occupying the land at Naddigadda Thanda Subaschandra Bose Nagar and Omkar Nagar in Rangrareddy district's Miyapur village. 

The division bench of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N. Tukaramji passed the order on a PIL filed by Dr. P.R Subhas Chandran, a social worker, who has sought constitution of a study group or committee, headed by Telangana Chief Secretary, to inspect and provide an interim report assessing the situation on the land which is stated to be occupied by 2000 families since over 40 years.

The petition also prays that residents be permitted to undertake minor repairs in their respective houses, including sewerage and drainage system to prevent overflow of water into their houses. It also seeks setting up of sanitary and drainage systems.

According to the petition, In 1976, an extent of 132.77 acres of the land was declared as Enemy Land vested with Government of India as its custodian. A certain part of it was encroached by the hut dwellers. The petition states that the residents have been issued Voter Ids, Aadhar cards and house numbers. Most of the residents belong to the backward communities and had migrated from neighbouring villages to earn a living in Telangana, it adds.

While Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) provided roads, street lights, and underground drainage systems, electricity connections, drinking water and bore wells, it is not taking up maintenance and sanitation work, Chandran said in the plea.

The plea states that Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) erected a check post in 2016 on the land and ever since has being continuously threatening and harassing the residents of eviction. The CRPF is also preventing the GHMC from taking up maintenance and sanitation working, resulting in pathetically unhygienic living conditions, the plea alleges

Chandran in the plea has further said that in 2021, the residents had made representations to the National Commission for Backward Classes, requesting allotment of plots or assignment of house sites to the residents. The NCBC later conducted several meetings with the occupants, revenue authorities, CRPF authorities and submitted recommendation vide a letter dt. 19.02.22 to the custodian of Enemy property. Taking into consideration their long stay, the NCBC recommended to allot the occupants the piece of land on their name and directed neither the authorities to not disturb them from their possession and allow them to live a peaceful life with dignity and without any intervention, according to the plea. 

Title: Dr. PR Subas Chandran vs. Uoi and Ors.