Hyderabad, 17 August
Telangana Government Cancels Lease of Urdu Academy Land to Private Firm
The Telangana government has cancelled its decision to lease 1.04 acres of Telangana Urdu Academy land to a private company, following weeks of protests and demands for withdrawal from minority organisations and opposition parties, including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
The cancellation was issued through GO 23 of the Minorities Welfare (Estt.I) Department, dated August 11, withdrawing GO 20, which had been issued on July 16.
The Director of Minorities Welfare and the Director of the Telangana Urdu Academy have been instructed to take further necessary action accordingly. Telangana Government Cancels Lease of Urdu Academy Land to Private Firm.
Lease involved 1.04 acres of Academy land
The cancelled lease covered 1.04 acres, or 5,220 square yards, of Telangana Urdu Academy land in Survey No. 29 of Dargah Hussain Shah Wali village, Serilingampally, Rangareddy district.
Under the earlier order, the land was to be handed over to Hyderabad-based NN Infra & Constructions for a period of 30 years.
The proposed project included the construction of an Urdu Ghar-cum-Shadikhana and a commercial complex under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.
Lease faced criticism over tender process
The lease had come under criticism after it emerged that Minority Affairs Secretary B. Shafiullah had cleared the proposal without a public tender or competitive bidding process.
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had questioned the authority under which the decision was approved. He argued that such a decision required clearance at the Chief Secretary level after following due procedures, including public notice and inviting objections.
Owaisi had also urged Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to intervene and review the decision.
BRS, minority groups sought cancellation
The BRS also submitted a representation to the Chief Secretary’s office, seeking cancellation of the lease and an independent inquiry into whether the required statutory procedures had been followed.
Meanwhile, minority organisations associated with the Indian Line Welfare Forum and Muslim United Front passed a resolution at a round-table conference demanding withdrawal of the government order and restoration of the land to the Telangana Urdu Academy.
Government withdraws earlier order
With GO 23, the state government has now formally withdrawn GO 20 and directed the concerned officials to take further action.
The latest order was signed by Ahmad Nadeem, Principal Secretary to Government (FAC), Minorities Welfare Department.