The Telangana government has failed to file a counter affidavit in the High Court regarding a land dispute involving 42.03 acres belonging to the Balasai Baba Trust in Kondapur, Sherilingampally Mandal. The lands, covering survey numbers 105 to 108, were registered in the name of the Trust in 1990. The state government had issued a Government Order (GO) in 2005 to regularize these properties in the Trust’s name. However, the matter has now become a contentious legal battle between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments over jurisdiction and ownership rights.
The dispute escalated when the Managing Trust approached the High Court in 2013 seeking permission for a development agreement on the Trust lands. Following state bifurcation, procedures were formulated for public auction, and the lands were subsequently allotted to a private company, Bhupati Associates. This allocation triggered legal challenges, with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed alongside 24 writ petitions in the High Court questioning the legality of the land transfer.
The High Court, after hearing the case, directed the Telangana government to submit its counter affidavit by the 9th of this month. Despite the court-mandated deadline, the state government has not filed any response. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has filed a counter claiming that Telangana has no authority over these lands.
The AP government argues that since the Balasai Baba Trust is registered in Kurnool according to legal provisions, the management and control of these lands fall under their jurisdiction.
The Telangana government’s failure to meet the court deadline has drawn criticism from various quarters. The case involves significant land assets in a prime location, and the lack of response from the state government raises questions about administrative efficiency. The High Court is expected to take up the matter in subsequent hearings, where the absence of Telangana’s counter affidavit may impact the proceedings.
The AP government’s counter maintains that the Trust’s registration in Kurnool gives them legal standing over the property management, creating a complex inter-state jurisdictional dispute.
