HC gives Centre, T a week to compensate landowner in DRDO land row | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Telangana high court on Friday granted the Union and state govts one more week to complete land acquisition proceedings and pay compensation to a private landowner whose property is now occupied by the DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI) at Kancha Imarat. The court warned that district collectors concerned could face contempt proceedings if compliance is not reported by Oct 16.Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy issued the direction while hearing a contempt petition filed by Syed Mohammed Shabbuddin of Pahadishareef, Maheshwaram mandal, relating to 16.19 acres at Raviryala village, Kancha Imarat, on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The petitioner is seeking compensation of ₹31.12 crore for the land and an additional ₹1 lakh towards its use by the defence establishment.According to the petitioner, the land originally belonged to his grandfather, who filed a civil suit in 1986 seeking declaration of title and possession. A civil court ruled in his favour in Nov 1996, and the judgement was never challenged through an appeal.Subsequently, when Shabbuddin approached the high court seeking implementation of the civil court decree, the court directed the govt to complete land acquisition proceedings and pay compensation, including ₹1 lakh to the affected party.Alleging non-compliance with those directions, Shabbuddin filed the present contempt petition.Senior counsel Vedula Venkataramana, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the deadline fixed by the high court for completing land acquisition and payment of compensation expired on Friday, but the authorities had yet to comply.He further argued that the state had filed a civil suit claiming ownership of the land in an attempt to avoid implementing the court’s order.Advocate general A Sudarshan Reddy informed the court that the acquisition process was being completed on a priority basis.Additional solicitor general B Narasimha Sharma submitted that steps had already been initiated to deposit the compensation amount.Recording the submissions, Justice Bhaskar Reddy adjourned the matter and directed the authorities to file a compliance report on completion of the land acquisition process and payment of compensation by Oct 16. The court made it clear that failure to do so could expose the district collectors concerned to action under the Contempt of Courts Act.