Hyderabad HC cracks whip, seeks full details on Owaisi institutions in Salkam Cheruvu

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday pulled up civic and irrigation authorities and gave them a final one week deadline to submit complete details of permissions granted to Barrister Fatima Owaisi Educational Institutions in the Salkam Cheruvu lake area.

The court directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the Irrigation Department and other departments concerned to file reports on building sanctions issued by GHMC, the current status of Full Tank Level (FTL) fixation, and approvals granted to run educational institutions on the disputed site. It cautioned that it would pass suitable orders if the authorities failed to comply within the stipulated time.

The bench noted that, despite earlier orders passed on April 13 and April 30, the authorities had not placed before the court a clear and consolidated picture of all permissions relating to the Owaisi institutions at Salkam Cheruvu, even after nearly three months.

Justice NV Shravan Kumar was hearing a petition filed by an advocate alleging that the institutions had raised constructions by encroaching upon the lake area and that officials had not taken action. Terming this the “last opportunity”, the judge granted the departments one more week to adhere to the court’s directions.

During the hearing, counsel for the Irrigation Department stated that a joint inspection had been carried out on May 15 and that sketches had been sought from the revenue authorities, adding that the FTL would be finalised after those sketches were received.

However, the petitioner’s counsel objected, accusing the department of attempting to reopen the FTL determination exercise. He pointed out that a preliminary notification fixing the FTL of Salkam Cheruvu had already been issued in 2016 and questioned why a fresh process was being initiated now.