The Telangana high court has found fault with the allocation of land for upper caste groups like Kammas, Kapus, Velamas and Balijas in the prime areas of Hyderabad for the construction of their buildings.
A division bench comprising acting chief justice Sujay Paul and justice Renuka Yara issued interim orders prohibiting any further constructions on the lands allocated to the Kamma, Velama, and Vishwa Balija Kapu associations at Khanamet near Madhapur under Serilingampally municipal limits.
The court stated that if any constructions have already taken place, they will be subject to the final verdict. It further directed that no new constructions should be undertaken.
In 2021, the then Bharat Rashtra Samithi government had previously issued different Government Orders (GOs) allocating five acres of land for community buildings of the Kamma and Velama associations and over six acres for the Vishwabaliija Kapu association in Khanamet.
Retired Professor Vinayak Reddy and advocate Sunkara Naresh filed separate Public Interest Litigations (PILs) challenging these GOs.
The petitioners’ counsel argued that the government had allotted land to caste-based associations at a nominal price and sought an interim order to halt any further constructions and cancel the GOs.
The petitioner argued that these communities were among the wealthiest in the state. His counsel submitted to the court that the market value of the allotted land is exceptionally high.
While the government estimated the value of one acre at Rs 50 crore, the market value is much higher than this, he argued.
After hearing the arguments, the bench sought an explanation from the government and adjourned the hearing to March 7.
In 2023 itself, the high court stayed the allotment of land by the state government to two caste groups, Velamas and Kammas, to build community Bhavans.
The high court ordered not that no work be continued in the said lands. The stay was vacated later.
