Hyd HC orders Rs 1 lakh fine on builder for illegal structure in Gachibowli

The Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on a builder, who alleged raised the height of a building in violation of the plan sanctioned by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and also misled the court.

The court was hearing a contempt case filed by the GHMC, which stated that the builder, identified as Syed Moinuddin Ali Khan, had applied for a building that was 1,152 square feet while the completed structure in Gachibowli was 15,171 square feet. 

When the GHMC first served him a notice, the builder managed to get a court order to maintain status quo, but went on to violate it by completing the construction of the building. 

After hearing both sides, the court declared him guilty of violating its orders, and told the GHMC that it was free to remove the illegal part of the structure.

The judge hearing the case said that such brazen violations should not go unpunished and that other builders must learn from the present case.

The court also stated that the Rs 1 lakh collected as part of the fine, would be used to plan greenery in the area. 

In December last year, the court had questioned the GHMC and its ‘lax’ attitude against builders who obtained injunction orders and went ahead with their constructions.

The court observed that this practice was especially prevalent in Hyderabad and the adjacent Ranga Reddy district.

"An injunction order is not the end of the story. Officials can seek vacation of those orders. GHMC officials who left things unchallenged in the civil courts should be taken to task. An injunction or a status quo is a restraint order on GHMC and also on the builder. Such a restraint order cannot be a licence for the builder to complete the illegal structure," the court was quoted as saying.