Observing that “continuous dereliction of duty by the GHMC authorities may turn the state capital into an urban concrete jungle in the long run”, the Telangana High Court ordered them to remove illegal encroachments on public roads in Block No. 16, HIG-II, Baghlingampally, Hyderabad.
Passing the orders on a writ petition filed by some residents of the locality alleging non-responsiveness of the GHMC authorities to their complaints regarding encroachments, Justice NV Shravan Kumar said it was high time authorities like HYDRAA took immediate steps to rehabilitate the area as per the approved terms of the plan. The judge ordered the government to “initiate action against the erring officers whose continued inaction and negligence allowed such interventions to continue for years.”
The judge observed that such “indiscriminate encroachments” in Baghlingampally, where the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Housing Board had built a residential colony with blocks of flats, severely restricted the flat owners from using the roads properly. The colony “is a glaring example of how a well-planned residential area can turn into a slum-like location due to the continued inaction and negligence of city authorities who do not act in accordance with the law for reasons best known to them,” the judge said in the order.
Noting that there has been encroachment on public roads, parks and open spaces for other amenities, the judge said the GHMC officials have failed to remove the same despite receiving representations from flat owners for the past few years. Section 7 (6) of the Telangana State Building Permission Appraisal and Self Certification System (TS-BPASS) Act-2020 allows people to bring unauthorized constructions to the notice of the civic body.
Justice Shravan Kumar cited several Supreme Court verdicts that have guided governments and officials on how to proceed in situations of illegal encroachment on public roads and places. In the Baghlingampally case, authorities should have reacted soon after receiving complaints from flat owners.
The provisions of the GHMC Act mandate that notices be issued to persons accused of encroaching on public space. However, the judge refrained from issuing notices to 20 private individuals in the case.
Published – 16 May 2026 21:46 IST
