The Telangana High Court has questioned the scale of a proposed 35-storey building near the historic Moazzam Jahi Market in Hyderabad. Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy raised concerns about the Meenakshi Elysia project in Gunfoundry, Abids, during a hearing on Tuesday, October 13.
The court was hearing a petition filed by the Society for Crusade Against Corruption, Hyderabad, represented by its general secretary, M Purushotham. The petition challenges a building permit issued on August 23, 2022, under Permit No. 2831/GHMC/KHB/2022-BP.
The petitioner alleged that authorities granted the permit without following required legal procedures and building norms. It asked the court to direct action against Meenakshi Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd. and to stop further construction until the requirements for a high-rise building are met.
Counsel for the developer told the court that the company had secured the necessary permissions and no-objection certificates from the relevant authorities. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the company’s counter affidavit did not adequately address the allegations, including concerns about safety risks.
The Bench was told that the building would have 35 floors, two cellar levels and five other levels. The judge expressed concern that the high-rise appeared to overshadow Moazzam Jahi Market and questioned the basis for approving such a large development near the heritage landmark. The court also raised the wider issue of high-rise construction near historical monuments.
The developer’s counsel said another petition raising similar allegations about the project was pending and sought to have the cases heard together. The petitioner’s counsel requested time to obtain details of that case and respond. The Bench said the matter could be listed on Wednesday or Thursday and asked counsel to provide the case number and details.
