Telangana HC tells state to allot land to SRSP-displaced woman in two weeks

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has directed the state government to allot agricultural land to a woman displaced by the Sriramsagar project within two weeks.

A division bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy issued the direction. It said the state's challenge to a Rs 10 lakh compensation order would be considered after the allotment.

The government acquired Dhanthakala Chinnamma's agricultural land for the project in 2006. It allotted her two acres in Bolapur-II village in Mallapur mandal, but officials did not hand over possession because third parties occupied the land.

A single judge on March 10 directed the authorities to identify suitable agricultural land under the rehabilitation and resettlement scheme and give her possession within four weeks, the newspaper reported. The order also required officials to issue a pattadar passbook and title deed.

The single judge awarded Chinnamma Rs 10 lakh for the agricultural income lost during the 20-year delay and Rs 25,000 for legal expenses.

The woman had received a house site and employment under the rehabilitation package, but not the promised agricultural land. The government told the division bench that the earlier allotment was occupied by third parties and sought to set aside the compensation.

The court declined to grant immediate relief on compensation and directed the government to place the actual allotment and transfer of possession on record. The matter was adjourned to October 13.