High Court Discusses Protection of Lakes in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: On Thursday, a Special Government Pleader informed the High Court Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Srinivas Rao, about the progress in protecting lakes within the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) limits. Out of 3,342 lakes under HMDA, preliminary notifications have been issued for 2,793 lakes.
Additionally, final notifications have been issued for 765 lakes. The Court was also informed that significant work has been completed to issue final notifications for the remaining lakes.
The Division Bench was hearing a petition urging the State Government to take action to protect lakes within HMDA limits. In an earlier order dated July 27, 2023, the High Court had directed the Lake Protection Committee to submit a compliance report for establishing buffer zones around 3,532 water bodies in the HMDA area.
On July 24, 2024, HMDA Commissioner Sarfaraz Ahmed appeared before the Court and requested three months to finalize notifications for 3,342 lakes. This step is meant to prevent illegal encroachments and constructions within the Full Tank Level (FTL) of the lakes.
The Court has now adjourned the matter to February 4, 2025, and directed HMDA to submit a status report by that date.
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Criminal Case Against AIMIM MLAs Put on Hold
On Thursday, Justice Kunuru Lakshman of the Telangana High Court Single Bench granted a “stay” on all further proceedings in a criminal case against two AIMIM MLAs, Md. Kauser Mohiuddin (Karwan Assembly Constituency) and Akbaruddin Owaisi (Chandrayangutta Assembly Constituency).
The criminal petition was filed by the two MLAs seeking to quash proceedings in Case No. 5235/2022, pending before the XVI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Court in Nampally, Hyderabad. The case was registered at Kulsumpura Police Station under Sections 341 and 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and a charge sheet had been filed.
During the hearing, Justice Lakshman observed that the charge sheet did not meet the requirements for offenses punishable under Section 341 IPC. Previously, on November 3, 2023, the Judge had granted an interim stay on further proceedings in the case.
On Thursday, the Judge extended the stay, halting all further proceedings in the case before the XVI ACMM Court, Nampally.
