The Telangana High Court has issued a landmark order for the immediate removal of unauthorized occupants from a historic land parcel in Hyderabad, where a private charitable trust has been operating a veterinary hospital and goshala (cow shelter) for over a century. This directive comes in response to a writ petition filed by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), highlighting illegal alterations and encroachments on the property.
Court Mandates Swift Action with Police Protection
In a hearing on January 9, Justice Suddala Chalapathi Rao granted a two-week deadline for the execution of the eviction order. The court specifically directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Endowments Department to protect the premises from any further encroachment and to report compliance by January 30, the next scheduled hearing date.
To ensure the order is carried out effectively, the judge instructed the authorities to approach the Hyderabad police and seek police protection for the eviction process. The Hyderabad police commissioner has been directed to extend full cooperation in removing the encroachments, underscoring the court's commitment to enforcing its decision without delay.
Historical Trust Established in 1927 Faces Encroachment Issues
The petitioner, SPCA, is a private trust established in 1927 and has been running a veterinary hospital and goshala near the Musallam Jung bridge on the Musi River. The trust, historically chaired by the chief justice of the erstwhile high court of Andhra Pradesh and senior officials of the Nizam's government, was originally allotted 4,000 square yards of land.
However, Senior Advocate K Hariharan, representing the society, submitted that only about 2,096 square yards remain today. He argued that the trust has been operating without any profit motive, solely focused on animal welfare, but is now deprived of rendering services due to encroachments.
The petition highlighted that a road has been laid on the property, and part of the land has been encroached upon, including the illegal establishment of a hotel. This has severely impacted the trust's ability to function, as noted in the court's records.
Court's Findings and Directions
After considering submissions from both sides, the court recorded that the land used by the trust for its veterinary hospital and goshala has been encroached upon by a private individual for running a hotel. The government pleader and GHMC's standing counsel acknowledged that a portion of the land is still being used as a goshala.
Subsequently, the court directed the respondent authorities to follow due process of law, remove all encroachments on the disputed land within the stipulated two weeks, and report back on their compliance. This order aims to restore the property to its intended use for animal welfare, preserving its historical significance from the Nizam era.
The case underscores ongoing challenges in protecting heritage sites and charitable institutions from illegal encroachments in urban areas like Hyderabad.
