State can’t claim title on Begumpet prime land: HC

HYDERABAD: In a setback to the government that is claiming 3,500 square yards of land at Begumpet near chief minister’s residential building, the Telangana high court has held that the state could not substantiate its title claim and Dr Chandra Rekha Vigg is the owner of the land situated in survey number 214/1.
Justice P Madhavi Devi pronounced this order after hearing a petition filed by Dr Chandra Rekha and another person who challenged the attempts of officials of Greenlands Guest House belonging to the state government's protocol department who were trying to take over the land.They were claiming it to be government land.
Earlier, the high court had ordered status quo till the court came to a conclusion. The court has now ruled that both Chandra Rekha and her predecessors in title were absolute owners of the land.
Though the revenue officials cited the entries in town survey land record to substantiate their claims, the judge pointed out that a civil court in Hyderabad earlier held that the entries made in favour of the state’s public works department were incorrect. The high court too upheld the same in the past and the state preferred no appeal against such decision, the judge said and dismissed the claims of the state.
“The officials have not filed any document to show their right or authority to interfere with the legal possession of the land by Chandra Rekha,” Justice Madhavi Devi said.
The judge delved into the history of the land and said that the petitioner’s grandfather held the title and in fact had lived there.
“There were land acquisition proceedings to acquire a portion of the land in the past and compensation too was paid to Chandra Rekha’s family. Her title and possession of the land was never in doubt,” the judge said.
The judge also brushed aside the argument of the state that the state’s land is in survey number 215 and the petitioner is trying to intrude into it and claiming it.