HC blasts GHMC authorities over footpath encroachments

Court says authorities had not moved an inch over directions to remove encroachments issued by it nearly seven months ago

Warning GHMC authorities of “serious repercussions” if its orders over removal of encroachments on footpaths in city were not cleared, Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed them to file affidavits explaining steps taken on the matter. The HC, expressing dissatisfaction over the inaction of the GHMC authorities, said they had not moved an inch over the directions issued by it nearly seven months ago. A bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy, taking serious exception to the affidavit filed by GHMC standing counsel, said it was “absolutely vague”. The bench was hearing a PIL petition seeking clearance of the illegal occupation and grabbing of sidewalks in the State capital. “What kind of an affidavit is this...are you serious...this is just an eyewash,” the CJ said. The bench said it hoped the authorities would present details of the length of pavements encroached by different persons and how much of that was cleared.