The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Order on evacuee property suspended

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Wednesday, Jul 12, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Order on evacuee property suspended

Legal Correspondent

Sequel to stay on his order allotting evacuee property

Hyderabad: Justice V.V.S.Rao of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday suspended the orders passed by Revenue Secretary D. C. Rosaiah pertaining to alleged evacuee property in Puppalaguda village, Ranga Reddy district.

It may be recalled that the orders of Mr. Rosaiah created furore and the Government acted swiftly to get a writ petition filed. Joint Collector R.R. district filed the present writ petition and contended that the concept of displaced property belonging to displaced person and evacuee property had not been properly understood and the impugned orders were passed without application of mind.

The Judge suspended the order of the Revenue Secretary passed in favour of the alleged refugees and posted the matter after four weeks.

Revenue Secretary D. C. Rosaiah, who is in the eye of a storm over allotment of evacuee property at Poppalaguda here, has requested the Chief Secretary to relieve him of the subjects of `jagir administration' and `freedom fighters'.

Mr. Rosaiah sent a three-page letter to Chief Secretary T. K. Dewan on Tuesday soon after the State Government obtained a stay from the High Court on the order of Mr. Rosaiah issued in his capacity as Chief Settlement Commissioner, Evacuees, a quasi-judicial position of the Government of India.

Earlier, TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu had sought the suspension of the IAS officer for his action. Without referring to Mr. Naidu, Mr. Rosaiah said, "This gentleman does not mind suspension without notice because I belong to the depressed section community. This kind of double standard towards people like me even now is painful," he added.

Mr. Rosaiah said he was seeking transfer of these subjects in view of the controversy that had arisen over his order allotting 200 acres of land to evacuees (Pakistan-displaced families).

He said it was not he who had dealt with the issue of these lands first.

The Chief Commissioner, Land Administration, had passed orders in 2003 allowing the "balance lands" to the legal heirs of the displaced families.

After this, the issue was reopened and hearing was taken up in 2003, 2004 and 2006.

He had issued the orders only after these hearings.

Recalling that the two subjects were allotted to him on the request of the Principal Secretary, Revenue, he said he had discharged his duties with utmost honesty and sincerity.

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