IAS, IPS officers’ interim applications for vacating stay over Nagaram lands dismissed

Justice K. Lakshman of the Telangana High Court on Friday dismissed interim applications filed by some IAS and IPS officers seeking directions to quash the stay order passed by the HC over Bhoodan land in Nagaram village of Maheshwaram mandal of Rangareddy district.

In April this year, a single judge of the SC directed the Revenue and Registration officials that the village’s lands in cadastral numbers 181, 182, 194 and 195 should not be altered, modified or transferred in any way until further orders. An article claiming that large-scale fraudulent transactions were carried out on the lands included in the cadastral numbers in question was included in this direction.

Petitioner Birla Mallesh sought directions from the HC to declare that the failure of different officials in the Revenue, Stamp and Registration departments to take action on his petitions on “illegal land transactions” was arbitrary. He alleged that the lands in question actually belonged to the Bhoodan Yajna Board and were purchased by private persons, including some senior IAS and IPS officers. The petitioner said these actions warrant investigation by Enforcement Directorate officials.

Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the judge issued an interim order directing the Registration department to include the lands in the list of prohibited properties. Opposing this interim order, some IAS and IPS officers raised objections. However, the then division bench refused to postpone the order and directed the appellants to approach the single judge for stay of execution order.

Finally, the matter was transferred to the bench of Justice K. Lakshman. The judge, who announced the verdict in the written petition, also rejected four interim applications to lift the stay of execution decision.

The judge dismissed the writ petition filed by A. Ramulu seeking constitution of a Commission of Inquiry against three Rangareddy district Revenue officers and three private individuals to investigate the illegal mutation of lands in survey numbers 194 and 195 of Nagaram. Another writ petition by Birla Mallesh seeking directions to provide copies of the mutation of lands in Nagaram village to the authorities was also dismissed.

The judge, however, gave liberty to the petitioner to make an appropriate application to the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration and other Revenue officials with a specific request for submission of certified copies of the documents. The judge stated that if the authorities ignore his request, the petitioner can file a fresh writ petition or take steps in accordance with the law.