Hyderabad, 23 July
Telangana HC Orders Status Quo on Bahadurguda Bullet Train Land Dispute
The Telangana High Court has directed all parties to maintain status quo over disputed Bahadurguda Bullet Train Land near Shamshabad until further orders, while hearing petitions challenging the proposed land acquisition for the state’s bullet train project.
Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy passed the interim order on Thursday after observing that the matter involves serious disputes relating to the ownership and possession of the Bahadurguda Bullet Train Land. The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 11.
The order comes amid claims by farmers and a private company that government officials attempted to enter the land and interfere with their possession without following due legal process.
Telangana High Court Directs Status Quo
While hearing the case, the High Court directed all concerned parties to maintain the existing position regarding the Bahadurguda Bullet Train Land until further orders are issued.
The interim direction means that no party should alter the present status of the disputed land, pending a detailed examination of the claims made by both the petitioners and the state government.
Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy noted that the dispute raises important questions concerning ownership rights, possession, and the procedure adopted during the proposed land acquisition for the bullet train project.
Two Separate Petitions Filed
The dispute over the Bahadurguda Bullet Train Land reached the Telangana High Court through two separate writ petitions.
The first petition was filed by 85 farmers, who claim ownership and possession of portions of the disputed land.
The second petition was filed by Mustang Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd. along with two other petitioners, seeking protection of land claimed by the company.
Both petitions challenged the actions of government authorities, alleging that officials entered the land without following the procedures prescribed under law.
Farmers Allege Illegal Interference
According to the farmers’ petition, officials from the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), the Revenue Department, and the police entered the disputed Bahadurguda Bullet Train Land without prior notice or legal authorization.
The petitioners alleged that officials attempted to remove them from their land, interfere with their possession, and demolish structures located on the property.
They argued before the High Court that these actions violated their legal rights and requested protection from any coercive measures until the ownership dispute is resolved.
The farmers further contended that any land acquisition process must strictly comply with the applicable legal provisions and procedural safeguards.
Mustang Infra Projects Makes Similar Claims
In a separate writ petition, Mustang Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd. alleged that government authorities attempted to enter and take possession of nearly 49 acres of patta land forming part of the disputed Bahadurguda Bullet Train Land.
The company claimed that officials neither issued notices nor followed the mandatory legal procedures before attempting to take possession of the property.
Seeking relief from the High Court, Mustang Infra requested protection against any further interference with its land until the dispute is adjudicated.
The company argued that lawful owners cannot be dispossessed without following due process under the law.
State Government Opposes Petitions
Representing the Telangana government, Advocate General A. Sudershan Reddy opposed both petitions and submitted that the allegations made by the petitioners lacked merit.
The state argued that the claims raised by the farmers and the company were not legally sustainable. However, the government’s detailed response is expected to be considered during the subsequent hearings.
The proposed acquisition of the Bahadurguda Bullet Train Land forms part of infrastructure planning linked to the bullet train project, making the dispute significant from both legal and developmental perspectives.
Next Hearing on August 11
After hearing arguments from both sides, the Telangana High Court directed that the status quo be maintained over the Bahadurguda Bullet Train Land until further orders.
The court did not express any opinion on the merits of the competing claims at this stage and clarified that the interim direction is intended to preserve the existing situation while the matter is examined in detail.
The case has now been posted for its next hearing on August 11, when the High Court is expected to consider further submissions from both the petitioners and the state government before deciding the next course of action.
With multiple stakeholders claiming ownership and possession, the legal proceedings are likely to play a key role in determining the future of the Bahadurguda Bullet Train Land and its proposed acquisition for the ambitious infrastructure project.