Hyderabad: Making illegal constructions is a cognizable offense, and even setting up a separate town planning tribunal to try such offences,said Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy of the Hyderabad High Court. He has given a series of directions to GHMC officials to act very tough on illegal constructions.
Justice Nagarjuna was hearing a plea by Jaan Mohammed of Hyderabad, who complaints about his neighbours for raising up illegal structure.
The judge has directed the Telangana government to bring into force immediately some of the proposed amendments to the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) Act. He said “These amendments are being sought by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and state government should support the GHMC initiative”.
He has directed the GHMC commissioner to file a detailed counter on how he proposes to curb this menace.
The GHMC commissioner
B Janardhan Reddy said. “We have already sought the nod from the state to modify the law to enable us to treat the actions of those who raise illegal structures as cognizable offences and to proceed against such persons accordingly”. He added “We also urged the state to bring another amendment to the HMC Act to set up a Town Planning Tribunal to deal with all cases of illegal structures expeditiously”.
The commissioner said that they have launched a criminal proceedings against such acts. “We have already set up a task force headed by a retired DSP and two retired assistant city planners to look into the issue of illegal structures and also to punish the errant GHMC staff.”
The judge also directed the state to respond to GHMC’s pleas and file a report within two months.