High Court Protects Dulapally Landowners in Foxsagar Land Use Dispute

The Telangana High Court on Friday granted interim protection to landowners in Dulapally village, Medchal-Malkajgiri district, staying the state government's recent orders that revoked previous approvals converting land use from recreational to residential. The dispute concerns properties in Survey Numbers 118, 119, and 122 near Foxsagar, where the government attempted to cancel residential status over concerns that the plots fall within the lake's full tank level (FTL).

The writ petition challenged the legality of GO Ms. No. 186 and GO Ms. No. 187, which were issued by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department on July 7. Through these orders, the state government cancelled previous orders—GO Ms. No. 67 dated June 4, 2019, and GO Ms. No. 201 dated September 29, 2023—which had permitted the land-use conversion.

The petitioners, who own residential plots in parts of Survey Numbers 118 and 122, argued that they had acquired their properties through registered sale deeds, gift settlement deeds, and exchange deeds. Several landowners had already constructed residential houses after receiving necessary approvals and occupancy certificates from competent authorities.

According to the state government, the revocation orders were issued because records indicated the survey numbers lie within the FTL of Foxsagar. The government stated that an inquiry to fix the FTL was currently underway. Pending the completion of this exercise, the government revoked the land-use conversion orders and directed the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA) alongside revenue authorities to take action.

The landowners countered that the government's own admission of a pending FTL inquiry meant the cancellation of land-use permissions was premature and unsustainable. They also pointed out that the cadastral map on the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) website, based on a 2013 preliminary notification, shows Survey Numbers 118, 119, and 122 lying outside the notified buffer zone of Foxsagar.

After reviewing the submitted materials, the High Court directed the state government not to take any coercive steps against the petitioners' properties. The court posted the matter for the next hearing on July 27.