Stating that demolition will not serve the purpose of curbing the menace of rampant illegal constructions in the city, the Hyderabad High Court has told the Telangana government and the GHMC that Section 46(4)of the GHMC Act enables the civic body to prosecute errant owners and builders by registering criminal case against them.
Allowing a petition by Jan Mohammed alias Shahan, a resident of the city, alleging that his neighbour was raising a construction in violation of the sanctioned plan without leaving any setbacks, Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy directed the State Government and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to take immediate steps to constitute town planning tribunal to deal with illegal constructions.
Referring to the affidavits filed by the GHMC Commissioner and Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development pursuant to the direction of the court, the judge asked the government to consider the suggestions of the GHMC Commissioner for amending the Municipal Corporation Act by making illegal construction a cognizable offence and also constituting tribunal for speedy disposal of cases.
He ordered the authorities to take steps to fill 200 vacancies in the town planning wing of the GHMC.
Assumes charge
Justice G. Shyam Prasad took oath on Friday as judge of the Hyderabad High Court. Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale administered the oath of office to Justice Prasad in the Central Hall of High Court main building on Friday morning.
Justice Prasad was born in Guntur on September 27, 1958. He began his career in law in 1985 and was elevated to the post of district judge in 1998.
On May 18, the President appointed Shyam Prasad who was member secretary (district and sessions judge) of AP State Legal Services Authority, as judge of the Hyderabad High Court.
