Telangana High Court Orders 2BHK Houses for 71 Evicted Nampally Slum Families
The Telangana High Court has directed the state government to allot permanent 2BHK houses to 71 families evicted from the Bhimraobada slum in Nampally, Hyderabad. Justice Suddala Chalapathi Rao ordered that the rehabilitation process be completed within two months through a transparent lottery at the Kollur 2BHK Housing Colony in Sangareddy district.
The ruling brings closure to an 18-year-old legal dispute that began with a writ petition filed in 2008. The legal challenge was initiated by K. Bharathi and 70 other residents who contested GO Ms. No. 251, dated March 24, 2008. Under this government order, the slum was de-notified, and residents were slated for relocation under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
According to the petitioners, the eviction was arbitrary and carried out without due process. The families had resided in the Bhimraobada slum for over six decades and had been issued D-form pattas after the area was officially notified as a slum in 1991. They alleged that authorities demolished their homes on January 2, 2007, and relocated them to Afzal Sagar without proper rehabilitation.
During the hearings, the court reviewed a report from an advocate commissioner appointed to inspect the site. The report confirmed that the slum had been demolished and recorded the grievances of the residents.
While the state government initially defended its actions, it later informed the court of its willingness to provide permanent housing and offered several 2BHK options. The petitioners chose the allotment at Kollur.
Recording this agreement, the court directed the government to allot a separate 2BHK flat with an undivided share of land to each petitioner, preferably in a single block. The state must also ensure the provision of basic amenities, including drinking water, drainage, and lifts.
The court allowed the legal heirs of deceased petitioners to apply for allotments within 30 days, instructing authorities to process these claims without fresh litigation. Other similarly placed individuals who were not part of the petition can also apply by providing proof of eligibility.
Noting that the families had been without permanent housing for nearly 17 years, the court ruled that the allotted houses cannot be alienated for five years. The Hyderabad District Collector has been directed to supervise the process and submit a compliance report.
