Telangana HC issues notices to 76 respondents, including IPS, IAS officers, in Bhoodan land transactions plea
After hearing contentions of petitioner Birla Mallesh's counsel L. Ravichander, the judge observed that prima facie the lands under survey numbers 181, 182, 194, and 195 of Nagaram village appear to be vested with the Bhoodan Board as per Section 14 of Bhoodan Act. In the backdrop of serious allegations made against the persons in high positions, the judge directed the Ranga Reddy district collector and sub-registrars of Maheshwaram and L.B. Nagar to forthwith include the said lands in the list of prohibited properties.
'The respondents are further directed not to change, alter, or alienate the said lands in any manner until further orders,' the judge ordered. Justice Bhaskar Reddy also said that the petitioner should not be permitted to withdraw the writ petition in view of the 'serious allegations made against the senior public officials and as public interest is involved'.
Top officials who were among the respondents to receive notices in the case are Navin Mittal IAS, D. Amoy Kumar IAS, S. Harish IAS, Ravi Gupta IPS, Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat IPS, T. Srinivas Rao IPS, Sowmya Mishra IPS, Swati Lakra IPS and Tarun Joshi IPS. Names of spouses of some top officials also figured in the list of respondents.
The judge observed that as per Bhoodan Act, the Bhoodan Board may allot such lands to landless persons willing and able to cultivate the land. The same can be allowed to the government or local bodies for community purposes or housing for poor and weaker sections. Those who get the land allotted can acquire rights that are prescribed under rule 9 of Bhoodan Rules. These land allotments are heritable but cannot be alienated, the judge said in the interim direction.
The petitioner alleged that the respondents, by abusing their official positions and in collusion with Revenue officials, have managed to get their names mutated in the revenue records and have obtained pattadar passbooks. The petitioner sought protection under the Whistle Blowers Protection Act-2014. The matter was posted to June 12 for next hearing.
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