Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar of Telangana High Court dismissed a writ petition filed by a family of 21 members claiming rights over 77 acres and 30 guntas of land under different survey numbers at Malkapur village of Chevella on outskirts of Hyderabad.
The judge said the plea was devoid of merits and did not require any interference. In 2003, the Chevella Revenue Division Officer issued an Occupancy Rights Certificate (ORC) over the lands to Deval Balaji (Lord Venkateshwara Swamy). The petitioners, claiming that their ancestors were exclusive owners of the lands, filed an appeal before the Rangareddy District Joint Collector challenging granting of the ORC by the RDO to Deval Balaji.
After hearing the contentions of the petitioners, the JC confirmed the RDO order in the matter. Questioning the Joint Collector confirming the RDO direction, the petitioners moved the HC. Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar, delivering the verdict, observed that while the petitioners challenged the title and possession of the property, the RDO had issued ORC under Section 4 of the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Inams Abolition Act-1955.
As there are disputes over the title and possession of the property, the petitioners ought to have approached the Endowments Tribunal as per the provisions of the Telangana Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act-1987, the judge said. In the backdrop of disputed facts relating to rights over the property, it cannot be adjudicated under Article 226 of the Constitution, the judge said.
Published – December 26, 2025 08:47 pm IST
