GHMC in catch-22 situation

​Hyderabad: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials have landed in a catch 22 situation over an application submitted to it under the Land Regularisation Scheme (LRS). According to sources, 300 families of the Jubilee Pallavi Enclave in Serilingampally had submitted an application under the LRS and made payments for the same to the civic body. 

However, the claims and counter-claims over the lands by the Telangana State Waqf Board (TSWB) and applicants left the GHMC officials high and dry. Making things more complicated for the civic body, the court has directed it to process the LRS applications, while a gazette notification states that the land belongs to the Waqf Board.

It was against this backdrop the civic body had slapped a notice against the TSWB asking it in July 2017 to submit its objections along with documents in support of its claim that the lands belong to the Waqf board. However, the board had not responded to it. Yet, the GHMC was hesitant to proceed further. Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official pointed out that it is a sensitive issue which has several ramifications from the highest echelons of the power. 

The civic body had sought legal opinion on an earlier occasion in March 2017 on the issue that the civic body could consider the application under the LRS, subject to the condition of court orders on the dispute of title over the lands.    

However, the Pallavi Society members asked the civic body to take suitable action on their application following the TSWB failing to respond to its notice within the time given by the GHMC.  Following this, the Zonal Commissioner of Serilingampally falling under the West Zone of the GHMC slapped another notice against the TSWB in October 2017. 

In the notice, the civic body asked the TSWB to submit its objections within seven days. If failed to respond to the notice, they will process and dispose of the LRS as per the order of the High Court in a number of writ petitions filed by the members of the Pallavi Society. But to their shock, the GHMC officials had got a gazette notification dated February 22, 2018, declaring the lands in question in favour of the Waqf Board. 

This had made things more complicated for the officials to decide whether they should follow the orders of the courts or the gazette notification. When contacted, GHMC West Zone Commissioner D Hari Chandana said, “The issue has been referred to the Advocate-General for his opinion and necessary steps would be taken as per the legal advice,” she added. 

But, the issue hit the roadblock following D Prakash Reddy resigning as the Advocate-General. Now, the civic body has to wait till it gets a legal opinion on the issue, the sources said.