Telangana HC Questions Priorities Over Land Compensation and Welfare Schemes

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday observed that citizens may not require government-sponsored welfare schemes like 'Kalyana Lakshmi' or 'Shaadi Mubarak' if the state creates employment opportunities and pays timely compensation for acquired land.

Justice NV Shravan Kumar raised these concerns while hearing a petition challenging the constitutional legality of the welfare schemes. The court noted that several land losers, spanning generations in some cases, who contributed to state and nation building by giving up their properties, are currently approaching courts to secure their rightful compensation.

"We are not telling the state how it has to spend its finances, but is statutory compensation for land losers your priority or welfare schemes?" Justice Shravan Kumar asked during the proceedings. The judge posed pointed questions regarding the legal framework governing the schemes and how they are backed.

The court directed Additional Advocate General Mohd Imran Khan to obtain clear instructions from the government on how it plans to clear pending land acquisition dues. The bench made it clear that land losers must be given first preference and their statutory compensation must be settled.

The High Court had previously stayed the welfare schemes on August 12 after the state sought additional time to file a counter in the matter. The case has been posted to Thursday, August 20, for further hearing.