Telangana High Court Initiates Suo Moto PIL On Underprivileged Children's Letter Alleging Encroachment Of Their Playground For Constructing Temple

The Telangana High Court has taken up a matter in the interest of public welfare following a letter addressed to the Chief Justice by 23 underprivileged children from Adilabad who alleged that the land allotted for their playground was being encroached for the construction of a temple.

It was stated in the letter that the old Housing Board Colony was established in the late 1970s in the heart of Adilabad for the upliftment and welfare of the downtrodden communities and for the underprivileged people. When the colony was established a land to an extent of about 1.5 acres was allotted for a children's park-cum-play area.

During 2000 to 2004 half about 30 guntas of the said land was encroached by some of the miscreants and a temple named after Lord Shiva was constructed, the letter said.

It was further stated in the letter that from the past few months land grabbers are again grabbing the remaining land for constructing another temple and though the parents of the children and other elders have given representation to the Authorities no action has been taken by the concerned authorities to stop the illegal construction in the park land

It was alleged that the Municipal Commissioner in Adilabad was aiding the alleged encroachment.

"Hence the Honourable Court may be pleased to issue necessary directions to the respondents to protect the park and stop illegal constructions by ordering an inquiry against the officials concerned who are aiding and advising the land grabbers to encroach the public parks and other government lands and to protect the Children's Park land situated in the old Housing Board Colony Adilabad from encroachments in the interests of justice and to pass appropriate orders," the letter read.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti has directed the official respondents to file an 'action taken report' on or before the next date of hearing.

On account of the complaint made against the Commissioner of the Municipality, the Registry was directed to implead her as a party and serve notice upon her.

Case no.: TUPWP(PIL) 1 of 2024