HC stay on razing of city fruit market
Hyderabad: Hours after the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials began the demolition of Gaddiannaram fruit market, the Telangana High Court issued a stay order while hearing a contempt petition filed by the commission agents on Monday.
Gaddiannaram is the only wholesale fruit market in the city that was established back in 1986. Despite stiff opposition by a section of the vendors and commission agents, the government then transferred the 21-acre facility to the health department to build a super speciality hospital last year.
A shed over 50,000 sq ft was constructed at Batasingaram to help vendors run their business temporarily as a 24-acre facility would be constructed at Koheda. Eventually, on December 20, the high court did uphold that the hospital serves a far higher public purpose than a fruit market.
However, HC gave a month’s time to shift the market to Batasingaram. Later on February 8, the HC extended it by another month to transport their belongings to the new place.
However, HC gave a month’s time to shift the market to Batasingaram. Later on February 8, the HC extended it by another month to transport their belongings to the new place.
On Tuesday, Chief justice Satish Chandra expressed his displeasure over the way the demolition was carried out and imposed a stay order against the demolition with immediate effect.
The counsel representing the government informed the HC that 76 out of 106 commission agents had already vacated the premises. The HC bench also issued notices to the principal secretary of the marketing department M Raghunandan Rao and its director Laxmi Bai to appear before it on March 14.
A contingent of police was deployed at the market and the area barricaded with two proclainers lined up to begin the demolition.According to the fruit market association, they weren’t allowed to shift their stock as officials commenced the demolition during the wee hours
