AP High Court Judgement Copy WP 1069 of 2008

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH
AT HYDERABAD
(Special Original Jurisdiction)
EIGHTH DAY OF JUNE

TWO THOUSAND AND NINE
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE V.ESWARAIAH
AND
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR
WRIT PETITION Nos.1069, 6562, 1894, 2063, 542, 7542 of 2008 & 4409 of
2006 & 15611, 16025, 16381, 16623, 17859, 8578, 7133, 15787 and
23494 of 2008 and 2861 of 2009
WP.No.1069 of 2008:
BETWEEN:
K.H.V. Prasad, S/o. K. Gopala Rao, R/o. M-11, Kakatiya Nagar,

Habsiguda, Hyderabad.
... PETITIONER
AND
1 The Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Rep by its Principal Secretary,
Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Secretarial,
Secretarial Buildings, Hyderabad.
2 The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Rep byits
Commissioner, Near B.R.K.R. Bhavan, Hyderabad.
...RESPONDENTS
Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the
circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court may be pleased to
issue writ of Mandamus declaring that the ordinance No 15/2007 and the
consequential GO Ms.No. 901, dt. 31-12-2007 as illegal, abitrary and violative of
Article 21 of the constitution of India and to pass such other order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.SRINIVAS DAMMALAPATI
Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR MUNCIPAL ADMN. & URBAN DEV.
WP.No.6562 of 2008
BETWEEN:
Lok Satta Party, H. No. 5-10-180/A&A1, Bond Lanes, Adarsh

Nagar, Hyderabad rep by its Vice-President of its, Greater
Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Chapter, K. Srinivasa Rao.
... PETITIONER
Page
1
AND
1 Government of Andhra Pradesh rep by its Principal Secretary,

Municipal Administrative Department, Secretariat Buildings,
Hyderabad.
2 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation rep by its Commissioner,
Hyderabad.
3 V.Sita Ramaiah, S/o Late V.Narasimha Murthy, R/o of Flat No.403,
Rakshith Residency, Plot No.6/2, Officers Colony, Sainathapuram,
Hyd - 62.
R-3 is impleaded as per Court Order dated on 25.09.08 in WPMP
11349/08
...RESPONDENTS
issue a writ, order or direction, one more particularly in the nature of Writ of
Mandamus declarignthe A.P. Regulation and Penalization of Unauthorizedly
constructed Buildings and Buildings Constructed in Deviation of the Sanctioned Plan
Rules, 2007 as ultravires, illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional and a colorable exercise
of power and strike down the same and pass such other further order or orders as
the Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper inthe circumstances of the case.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.S.NIRANJAN REDDY
Counsel for the Respondents 1 & 2 : GP FOR MUNCIPAL ADMN. & URBAN
DEV.
WP.No.1894 of 2008
BETWEEN:
1 Dr. A.S. Gajendra Mudaliar S/o.A.S. Srinivasa Mudaliar,

Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad, Occ: Doctor, aged 72 years
2 Dr. Sreelatha G. Mudaliar W/o.A.S. Gajendra Mudaliar
R/o.H.No. 10-2-35, West Maredpally, Secunderabad.
... PETITIONERS
AND
1 Government of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by Chief Secretary,

Secretariat, Hyderabad.
2 Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban
Development Authority, Secretariat, Hyderabad.
3 Commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Tank
Bund Road, Hyderabad.
4 A.G. Rajender S/o.A. Gouthameshwar Rao Rep. by GPA K. Sridevi
Page
2
W/o. K. Srinivasulu R/o. Padmakala Apartments, Flat NO.401,
Road No.1, West Maredpally, Secunderabad.
5 A.G. Devender S/o.A. Gouthameshwar Rao, Rep. by GPA
K. Sridevi W/o. K. Srinivasulu R/o. Padmakala Apartments, Flat
No.401, Road No.1, West Maredpally, Secunderabad.
6 A.G. Sreeram S/o.A. Gouthameshwar Rao, Rep. by GPA K. Sridevi
W/o. K. Srinivasulu R/o. Padmakala Apartments, Flat No.401,
7 C. Venkat Rao S/o. C. Suryanagaran Rao, Rep. by GPA K. Sridevi
W/o. K. Srinivasulu R/o. Padmakala Apartments, Flat No.401,
8 P. Renuka Seethapathi W/o. Seethapathi, Rep. by L.D. Rajendra
Prasad, Advocate Plot No.69 Road No.2 , West Maredpally,
Secunderabad.
9 P. Anapurna D/o. Seethapathi, Rep. by L.D. Rajendra Prasad,
Advocate Plot No.69 Road No.2 , West Maredpally, Secunderabad.
10 P. Nirupama D/o. Seethapathi, Rep. by L.D. Rajendra Prasad,
Advocate Plot No.69 Road No.2 , West Maredpally, Secunderabad.
11 Dr. V. Sathi Reddy S/o. V.A.S.N. Reddy, R/o. Flat No.201, Royal
Nest, West Marredpally, Secunderabad.
12 Sanjay M. Rohra S/o. Manganlal U. Ohra, R/o. Flat No.202, Royal
13 M.S. Subramanyam S/o. Seshadri Iyer, R/o. Flat No.202, Royal
14 Smt.Indumathi Rajendra Prasad W/o. L.D. Rajendra Prasad
R/o. Flat No.302, Royal Nest, West Marredpally, Secunderabad.
15 K. Srinivasulu S/o. K. Shankaraiah, R/o. Flat No.402, Padmakala
Apartments, Road No.1 West Marredpally, Secunderabad.
16 K. Ashok S/o. K. Shankaraiah, R/o. H.No. 1-7-631/A, Ramnagar,
Hyderabad.
...RESPONDENTS
pass an order direction or writ more in the nature of writ of Mandamus under
Art.226 of Constitution of India a. To Declare Andhra Pradesh Municipal Laws and
Urban Areas (Development) (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 dt. 15-12-2007 as
arbitrary, irrational unreasonable and ultra vires the constitution Consequently
G.O.Ms.no.901 MA dt.31-12-2007 Scheme of the Andhra Pradesh regulation and
penalisation of unauthorisedly constructed buildings and building constructed in
deviation of sanction plan Rules 2007 issued in pursuance of the ordinance as sham
null and void in the interest of justice and to pass such other order or orders
Counsel for the Petitioners: MR.S.SAINATHAN
Counsel for the Respondents 1 to 3: GP FOR MUNCIPAL ADMN. & URBAN
DEV.
Page
3
WP.No.2063 of 2008
BETWEEN:
K.Madhu Sudhan Rao, S/o.Late Sri Koripalli(V) Veeraju

Flat No.501,Vietla Towers Palace Layout Pedwaltiar Visakhapatnam.
... PETITIONER
AND
1 Government of A.P, Rep.by its Principal Secreary M.C.H and Urban

Development Secretariat,Secretariat Buildings Hyd
2 The Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation Rep.by its
Commissioner, Visakhapatnam
3 M/s. Ram Constructions, Rep.by its Managing Partner Sri Vitela
Rama Mohan, S/o.V.V.S.Prasad R/o.2nd Floor Kasturi Towers Polt
No.19, Vijayanagar Place Layout Peda Waltaiar.
...RESPONDENTS
issue a situate the nature of Mandamus declaring the action of the 1st respondent
to regularize the unathorized constructions as illegal, arbitrary and violative of
Article 300-A of the constitution of India and consequently direct the 2nd
respondent not to regularize unathorized consturuction made in to floor(pent
House) in Vietla Towers,bearing Door No.8-3-16/16 covered by T.S No.116-A of
Waltair ward the limts of Municipal Corporation Visakhapatnam and pass such other
order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioner: SMT.S.A.V.RATNAM
Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR MUNCIPAL ADMN. &
URBAN DEV.
MR. G. RAMA GOPAL
WP.No.542 of 2008
BETWEEN:
M/s. Rajyalakshmi Modern Rice Mill Contractors Company,

A Registered Firm Rep. by its Managing Partner, V. Venkata
Ramaiah, S/o.Durga Nageswara Rao aged 62 yrs, Occ: Business,
R/o. D.No. 74-2-19, Old Check Post Center, Bandar Road, Krishna
Nagar, Patamata, Vijayawada.
... PETITIONER
AND
Page
4
1 The Municipal Corporation, Vijayawada, Rep. by its Commissioner.
2 M/s. Kodur Villa Constructions Rep. by Managing Partner
K. Pitcheswara Rao, S/o.Not known to the Petitioner, Aged 50 yrs
R/o. D.No. 74-2-20, Old Check Post Center, Bandar Road, Krishna
Nagar, Patamata, Vijayawada.
3 K. Purnachander Raao S/o. Lakshmaiah, Ramachander Rao
Street, Patamata Vijayawada.
4 V. Ramakrishna W/o. Sriniasa Rao, SE4, Rithik Encla, NH-5,
Patamata Lanka, Vijayawada.
5 P. Aparna W/o. Srinivas, Qtr.No. 2029, MIG, BHEL,
Ramachandrapuram, Hyderabad
6 A. Sumalatha W/o. Purna idya Chander, D.No.5-188, Main Road,
Gudlaalleru Village(Mandal) Krishna District.
7 R. Venkateswara Rao S/o. Sreeramulu, Koneruvari Street,
Patamata, Vijayawada.
8 Y. Sreelatha W/o. Lakshmi Prasad, Flat No.202, Kakarla Towers,
Sai Nagar, Vijayawada.
9 S. Kodandarama Prabhu S/o. Narayana Rao, D.No. 12-137,
Jangareddygudem, West Godavari District.
10 N. Sridhar Kumar S/o. Hanumanth Rao, D.No.6-126,Mallapadu
Ibrahimpatnam Village&Mandal Krishna District.
11 R. Ranga Rao S/o. Veeraraghavaiah, D.No.23-237A, Batchupet,
Machilipatnam, Krishna District.
12 K. Lakshmikantha W/o. Radhakrishnamurthy, Qtr.No. 1338, MIG,
BHEL, Ramachandrapuram, Hyderabad.
13 S. Naga Saroja D/o. Rama Rao, FFi, Koduru Residency, Labbipet,
Vijayawada.
RR 3to13 impleaded as per court order dt. 21-4-2008 in WPMP
10364 of 2008
...RESPONDENTS
issue a writ of Mandamus declaring the inaction of Respondent No.1 in preventing
illegal, constructions made/being made by Respondent No.2 in premises bearing
No. D.No. 74-2-20. Old Check Post Center, Bandar Road, Krishna Nagar, Patamata,
Vijayawada in spite of representation dt. 12-1-2008 and telegram dt. 13-1-2008 of
the petitioner as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Art. 14,21,300-A of Constitution
of India and consequently direct Respondent No. 1 to forthwith take action and
demolish the illegal constructions made Respondent NO.2 in violation of the
sanctioned plan and pass such other order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.M.S.RAMCHANDRA RAO
Counsel for the Respondents: SMT.G.JHANSI
MR. M.V. SURESH KUMAR
MR.D.V. SITARAMAMURTHY
MRS. V. PREETI REDDY
Page
5
WP.No.7542 of 2008
BETWEEN:
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Rep. by S.K.Suri, Chief

Regional Manager, Secunderabad Regional Office, Unit: Visakha
Regional Office, Visakhapatnam, Siripuram, Visakhapatnam.
... PETITIONER
AND
1 The Govt. of A.P., Rep. by its Secretary, Municipal Administration

Department, Secretariat Buildings, Hyderabad.
2 The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Visakhapatnam,
rep. by its Commissioner.
...RESPONDENTS
issue writ or order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of
Mandamus declaring the Proceedings of the 2nd respondent in U.C.No.2/2008/ACP-
III dated 27-03-2008 thereby directing the petitioner/ to demolish the Retail Outlet
Petrol-cum- Filling Station in T.S.No.1032, Block No.45, Waltair Uplands,
Visakhapatnam, as one without jurisdiction, arbitrary and illegal and pass such
other order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.M.RAVINDRANATH REDDY
URBAN DEV.
MR VENKATA RANGADAS KANURI
MR. P. KAMLAKAR
MR. N. RANGA REDDY
WP.No.4409 of 2006
BETWEEN:
M.V. Sudhakar, S/o. Ramanuja Das, R/o. D.No. 10-3-11, Kailash,

Uplands, Visakhapatnam.
... PETITIONER
AND
1 Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., rep. by its Vice Chairman
Page
6
and M.D., at Mumbai.
2 Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., rep. by its Retails Outlet
Senior Manager, Visakhapatnam.
3 Joint Collector, Visakhapatnam District, Visakhapatnam.
4 Commissioner of Police, Visakhapatnam.
5 Municipal Corporation of Visakhapatnam, rep. by its
Commissioner.
6 District Fire Station Officer, Visakhapatnam.
7 Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority, Visakhapatnam,
rep. by its Vice Chairman and Managing Director.
8 Sri K. Ramakrishna Rao, R/o. Sunitha Enclave, II Floor,
Opp. Municipal High Level, Reservoir, Visakhapatnam.
9 Sri S. Kasi Viswanadha Raju, C/o. M/s. Guru Sampath Krupa
Agencies, Opp. Sampath Vinayagar Temple, Visakhapatnam.
...RESPONDENTS
issue a writ of Mandamus, or any other appropriate writ, order or direction,
declaring the action of the 1st to 7th respondents in permitting the respondents 8
and 9 in establishing and running the petrol outlet in the name and style of M/s.
Guru Sampath Krupa Agencies, Petrol Bunk, Uplands Visakhapatnam (near Sampat
Vinayagar Temple) as being illegal, arbitrary, and violative of Article 14 of the
Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents 1 to 7 to stop running
of the said Petroleum outlet and pass such other order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.S.V.R.SUBRAHMANYAM
Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR REVENUE
MR. M. RAVINDRANATH REDDY
MR VENKATA RANGADAS KANURI
GP FOR HOME
MR. N. RANGA REDDY
WP.No.15611 of 2008
BETWEEN:
Sri Balaji Towers Association, Regd.No.880/2006, Plot No.32,

Venkateswara Nagar, Extention-II, Old Safilguda, Secunderabad –
56, rep. by its Secretary, Mr.N.B.S.Rao, S/o. late N.Babu Rao.
... PETITIONER
AND
Page
7
1 The Govt. of A.P. rep. by its Principal Secretary, Municipal
Administration and Urban Development, Secretariat Buildings,
Hyderabad.
2 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad, rep. by its
Commissioner, Hyderabad.
3 The Deputy Commissioner Malkajgiri Division, GHMC, Hyderabad.
4 M/s. Aditya Builders rep. by its Proprietor Mr.A.C.Reddy S/o. ASI
Reddy, R/o.H.No. Plot No.33, Venkateswara Nagar Extention-II,
Old Safilguda, Secunderabad - 500 056.
5 Mrs. P.T.D. Lakshmi W/o. Mr. A.C. Reddy, R/o. H.No.Plot No.33,
Venkateswara Nagar Extention-II, Old Safilguda, Secunderabad –
500 056.
6 State Bank of India, rep. by its Manager, P.B. Branch, Gun Rock,
Secunderabad.
7 Syndicate Bank rep.by its Manager, A.O.C. Centre Branch,
Secunderabad.
8 Mr. Martin L.K. Gangolu S/o. not known, Quarter No.C/4, K.V.
Picket, Secunderabad.
9 Mr. Ganta Tirupati Rao S/o. Mr. G.Krishna Murthy Naidu
R/o.H.No.8-3-582/2/1, Yellareddiguda, Hyderabad - 073.
...RESPONDENTS
a) to issue a writ, direction(s), order or orders more particularly one in the nature
of writ of mandamus declaring the G.O.Ms.No.901 of 2007 dated 31.12.2007 and
G.O.Ms.No.112 of 2008 dt. 31.1.2008 as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Article 21
and 300-A of the Constitution of India and consequentially direct the 2nd
respondent a) not to regularize the illegal constructions in 5th Floor and Stilt
(ground) Floor in Sri Balaji Towers, Plot No.32, Venkateswara Nagar, Extention-II,
Old Safilguda, Secunderabad-56. b) to declare that the respondent Nos. 6 to 9 have
no saleable right, interest, title over the 5th Floor or Stilt (Ground Floor) or any
other unauthorized constructions in Sri Balaji Towers, c) To direct the Respondent
Nos. 2 & 3 to demolish the unauthorized constructions i.e., in the Stilt (ground
Floor), 5th Floor d) To direct the respondent Nos. 1 to 6 to pay damages of Rs.5
Lakhs for encouraging the illegal constructions and causing mental agony to the
members of the Petitioner's Association in the interest of justice as pass such other
order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.A.CHANDRAIH NAIDU
URBAN DEV.
MR. M. NARENDER REDDY
MR. CHETLURU SREENIVAS
MR. S.S. VISWANETRA REDDY
MR. G.K. DESHPANDE
Page
8
MR. Y. RAVINDRA SC FOR HUDA
MR. R. RADHA KRISHNA REDDY
SC FOR GHMC, SNC ZONE
WP.No.16025 of 2008
BETWEEN:
Bhaskar Nagar Colony Development, Welfare Association,

Regd.No.109/87, Rajahmundry, a Society registered under The
Societies Registration Act, rep by its Secretary ABS Prasad.
... PETITIONER
AND
1 State of AP., rep by Secretary (Municipal Administration),

Secretariat Buildings, Hyderabad.
2 Municipal Corporation of Rajahmundry, Rep by its Commissioner,
Rajahmundry, E.G. District.
...RESPONDENTS
issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of
Ceritorari, striking down the G.O.Ms.Nos.112 and 113 dated 31.01.08 in so far as
the layouts of the Petitioner's Members, created and acted upon in the year 1969
covered by RSNo.110, 111, 112/1 & 2, 113 to 116 120, 121/1, 2 && 3, 122/1 & 2,
135, 136, and 137 of Bhaskar Nagar, Rajamundry, and consequently direct the
respondents not to interfere with the existing buildings with a further direction to
approve the plans that might be submitted for future constructions such are in
conformity with the Municipal Corporation Act and Town Planning Rules and pass
such other order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.M.SIVANANDA KUMAR
URBAN DEV.
MR. M. VISHNUVARDHAN REDDY
WP.No.16381 of 2008
BETWEEN:
Visakhapatnam Apartment Residents Welfare Association
Page
9
(VARWA), registered No. 1319 of 2005, rep by its General
Secretary A.V. Ramana Rao havingits officeat B-25, LIC
Apartments, Opp: MMTC. Colony, H.B. Colony Road, Visakhapatnam
... PETITIONER
AND
1 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep by its Principal Secretary,

Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Secretariat,
Hyderabad.
2 The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, rep by its
Commissioner, Visakhapatnam.
...RESPONDENTS
issue a Writ, order or direction particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus
declaring action of 1st respondent is issuing G.O.Ms.No.901 M.A. and U.D(M1)
Department dated 31-12-2007 as amended by G.O.Ms.No.112 M.A. dated 31-01-
2008 as illegal arbitrary and contrary to the Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of
India and pass such other order or orders which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit
and proper in the circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.V.RAGHU
URBAN DEV.
MR. N. RANGA REDDY
SC FOR MPL. CORP. VSP
WP.No.16623 of 2008
BETWEEN:
1 Vaddiraju Deepak Kumar, S/o. Radhakishan Rao,

R/o. H.No.2-3/1 & 2, Vaddiraj Colony, R/o. Gopalapuram Village,
Hanamkonda(M), Warangal District.
2 Modigonda Vijaya Lakshmi, W/o. Mallikarjuna Rao, R/o. 3-106,
Vaddiraj Colony, R/o. Gopalapuram Village, Hanamkonda(M),
Warangal District.
3 Shankaramanchi Upendra Shastri, S/o. Ramaiah,
R/o. H.No.4-15, Kanakadurga Colony, R/o. Gopalapuram Village,
4 Udayamarri Hemalatha, W/o. Krishnamurthy Sharma,
R/o. H.No.4-4/2, Kanakadurga Colony, R/o. Gopalapuram Village,
Page
10
5 Maringanti Yadagira Charyulu, S/o. Kurma Charyulu,
R/o. 4-17, Kanakadurga Colony, R/o. Gopalapuram Village,
6 Gade Sampath Rao, S/o. Jaganmohan Rao, R/o. H.No.3-117,
Kanakadurga Colony, R/o. Gopalapuram Village, Hanamkonda(M),
Warangal District.
7 Porandla Satish, S/o. P.D.Krishnamurthy, R/o.3-138,
Kanakadurga Colony, R/o. Gopalapuram Village, Hanamkonda(M),
Warangal District.
8 Gundimella Sampath Kumar S/o. G.V. Rmanuja Charyulu
R/o. H.No.3-138/1, Kanakadurga Colony. R/o. Gopalapuram
Village, Hanamkonda(M), Warangal District.
9 Ragi Upender S/o. Laxmipathi R/o. H.No.3-136 Kanakadurga
Colony. R/o. Gopalapuram Village, Hanamkonda(M), Warangal
District.
10 Valaboju Upender Rao S/o. Srinivasa Rao R/o. H.No.6-2/5,
Gupalapuram. R/o. Gopalapuram Village, Hanamkonda(M),
Warangal District.
11 Valaboju Muralidhar Rao S/o. Srinivasa Rao R/o. H.No.6-2/6,
Gupalapuram, R/o. Gopalapuram Village, Hanamkonda(M),
Warangal District.
12 Thumuganti Rajeshwar Rao S/o. Vasantha Rao, R/o. H.No.4-12/3,
Warangal District.
13 Chindural Aruna Devi W/o. Bhaskar, R/o. H.No.4/1/A/1,
Gupalapuram, R/o. Gopalapuram Village, Hanamkonda(M),
Warangal District.
14 Chakilam Prasada Rao S/o. Venkatarama Rao, R/o. H.No.4-14
Warangal District.
15 Damera Parsharamulu S/o. Komuraiah, R/o. H.No.4-12/1,
Warangal District.
16 Govikaari Sujatha W/o. Mohan Rao, R/o. H.No.4-5/3,
Warangal District.
17 Chidhirala Srinivasulu S/o. Vinkataiah R/o. H.No.5-58, L.I.C.
Colony, R/o. Gopalapuram Village, Hanamkonda(M), Warangal
District.
18 Edumuri Neelamma W/o. Rajamogili, R/o. H.No.4-12/2,
Warangal District.
19 Brahmnapally Seeth Laxmi W/o. Someshwara Sharma
R/o. H.No.6-12/4, Viveknagar Colony
R/o. Gopalapuram Village, Hanamkonda(M), Warangal District.
20 Shankaramanchi Satyanarayana Shastri S/o. Ramaiah
Page
11
R/o. H.No.3-137/1, Kanakadurga Colony
R/o. Gopalapuram Village, Hanamkonda(M), Warangal District.
... PETITIONERS
AND
1 The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep by its Principal Secretary,
Municipal Administration & Urban Development, A.P. Secretariat,
Hyderabad.
2 The Kakatiya Urban Development authority, Rep by its Vice-
Chairman, Hanamkonda, Waragnal District.
3 The District Collector, Warangal District, Warangal,
4 The Grampanchayath, Rep by its Surpanchy Gopalapuram
Grampanchayath and Village Hanamkonda Mandal, Warnagal
District.
...RESPONDENTS
issue a writ or order more in the nature of writ of Mandamus declaring the
application of impugned G.O.Ms.No.901 and 902 Municipal Administration & Urban
Development (M1) dated 31.12.2007 against the petitioners as ultravires, illegal,
arbitrary, unconstitutional and pass such other order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioners: MR.SADASIVA RAO PAMULAPARTY
Counsel for the Respondents: G.ELISHA( SC FOR ZPPS AND
MPPS,TEL REG)
MR. G. VISHWESHWAR REDDY
GP FOR MUNICIPAL ADMN. &
URBAN DEV.
GP FOR REVENUE
WP.No.17859 of 2008
BETWEEN:
Y. Sambasiva Rao, S/o. Y. Venkat Ramaiah, R/o. Flat No. 305,

Prashanth Heights, Prashanth Nagar, Kapra, ECIL Post,
Hyderabad - 62
... PETITIONER
AND
1 Hyderabad Urban Development Authority, Rep by its Vice

Chairman, 1-8-323, Paigah Palace, Police Lines, Rasoolpura,
Secunderabad.
2 Kapra Municipality, Rep by its Commissioner, Kapra, R.R. District.
Page
12
...RESPONDENTS
issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, more particularly one in the nature of
Writ of Mandamus, declaring the inaction of the 2nd respondent herein, in not
taking any steps to remove the unauthorized constructions raised in the stilt area of
premises bearing Municipal No. 1-19-68/A-13, Prashant Heights, Prashant Nagar,
Kapra, ECIL Post, Hyderabad, in contravention of the sanctioned plan in gross
violation to the technical permission granted by the 1st respondent herein, spite of
the 1st respondent herein, inspite of the 1st respondent's clear directins to the 2nd
respondent herein vide Lr.No. 2125/PA/H/2003 dt. 29-3-2008 as illegal, arbitrary
and consequently direct the 2 respondent herein to forthwith implement the
directions of the 1st respondent herein as per the 1st respondent's letter dt. 29-3-
2003, and to pass such other order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MRS.S.NANDA
Counsel for the Respondents: R.RAMACHANDRA REDDY, SC FOR
MCH 1,2,4&6
MR. M. SURENDER RAO
WP.No.8578 of 2008
BETWEEN:
1 Forum for Better Hyderabad, rep. by its Secretary, Mr. Omim

Maneck Shaw Debara S/o. Late Maneckshaw Debara, R/o. Mani
Minar, 41-913, Tilak Road, Hyderabad.
2 Prajaspandana A Common Cause Forum, Rep. by its President C.S.
Rao, S/o. Veerasaiah, 302 SV Towers, 5th Lane, Dwaraka Nagar,
Visakhapatnam.
3 P. Rama Murthy, S/o. Subba Rama Avadhani, AR Avenue, Balaji
Nagar, Nellore.
... PETITIONERS
AND
1 State of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Municipal

Administration and Urban Development, Secretariat Buildings,
Saifabad, Hyderabad.
2 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, rep. by its
Commissioner & Spl. Officer, Tank Bund Road, Hyderabad.
3 Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, rep. by its
Commissioner, Asilmetta Junction, Visakhapatnam.
4 Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, rep. by its Commissioner,
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13
Vijayawada.
5 Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA), rep. by its Vice-
Chairman, Greenlands, Hyderabad.
6 Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA), rep. by its
Vice-Chairman, Visakhapatnam.
7 Vijayawada Guntur Tenali Mangalagiri Urban Development
Authority (VGTMUDA), rep. by its Vice-Chairman, Vijayawada.
8 Director of Fire Services, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Tank
Bund Road, Hyderabad.
...RESPONDENTS
issue a writ, order or direction; more particularly one in the nature of writ of
Mandamus declaring the action of respondents in restoring to conferring of powers
upon the authorities to regualrize the constructions and layouts which have violated
the building rules and regulations and other statutes as illegal and unconstitutional;
consequently, set aside the A.P. Ordinance No.15 of 2007 and the consequential
GOs declaring that the State does not have the power to condone the violations of
buildings laws by collecting penalties etc., and pass such other order or orders
Counsel for the Petitioners: MR.K.S.MURTHY
URBAN DEV.
MR. M. SURENDER RAO
GP FOR HOME
SMT. G. JHANSI
MR. N. RANGA REDDY
(SC FOR MPL. CORP. VSP)
MS. K. ARUNA
(SC FOR VGTMUDA)
MR. M. DHANANJAY REDDY
(SC FOR HUDA)
V. SITA RAMAIAH
(PARTY-IN-PERSON)
WP.No.7133 of 2008
BETWEEN:
Anuradha Apartments Owner's Association Jandachettu Street

Gandhinagar Tenali Rep.by its President Challa Subba Rao
S/o. Kotaiah R/o. Flat No.103 Anuradha Apartments Gandhinagar
Tenali, Guntur District.
... PETITIONER
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14
AND
1 Government of A.P Rep. by its principal Secretary Municipal

Administration & Urban Development Secretariat Krishna Dist
2 Vijayawada-Guntur Tenali Mangalagiri Urban Development
Authority Rep. by its Vice President, Lenin Centre Vijayawada
Krishna District.
3 Tenali Municipality Rep. by its Municipal Commissioner AVR Market
Building, Main Road Tenali, Guntur District
4 M/s. Anuradha Constructions Tenali, Rep. by its Proprietor
Kasaraneni Anuradha, W/o. Sambasivarao R/o.5-86-31 1st Line
Lakshmipuram Guntur Dist.
...RESPONDENTS
issue an appropriate writ or direction or order more particularly one in the nature of
writ of Mandamus declaring the that the ordinance No.15/07 and the consequential
G.O.Ms.No.901 dt.31-12-2007 and G.O.Ms.No.112 dt.31-01-2008 issued by the 1st
respondent as illegal arbitrary and violative of Article 21 of the constitution of India
and to pass such other order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.N.SRIRAM MURTHY
URBAN DEV.
MR. S. NAGESWARA REDDY
MR. PRABHU NATH VASIREDDY
MS. J. ARUNA
(SC FOR VGTMUDA)
WP.No.15787 of 2008
BETWEEN:
1 Javaji Koti Nagaiah S/o.Venkata Narsaiah, R/o.H.No.3-14-74,

Nehru Road,Gandhi Nagar,Tenali,Guntur District.
2 Siddam Venkata Lakshmi W/o.J.Koti Nagaiah, R/o.H.No.3-14-74,
Nehru Road,Gandhi Nagar,Tenali,Guntur District.
... PETITIONERS
AND
1 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Secretary

Municipal Administration & Urban Development Authority
Secretariat Buildings, Hyderabad.
2 VGTM, Urban Development Authority, rep. by its Planning Officer,
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15
Vijayawada, Krishna District.
3 The Commissioner of Tenali Municipality, Tenali Guntur District.
4 Town Planning Officer, Tenali Municipality, Tenali, Guntur District.
...RESPONDENTS
issue an appropriate writ or order or direction more particularly a writ in the nature
of writ of Certiorari to call for the records and to quash the notices issued by the
2nd and 3rd respondents vide his proceedings Rc.No.G1/93/06 dated 30.4.2007
and Roc.No.6055/07/G2 dated 19.3.2008 by declaring G.O.Ms.No.901 (MA&UD(M1)
Department dated 31.12.2007 and G.O.ms.No.112 MASUD dated 31.1.2008 as
illegal void and without jurisdiction and pass such other order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioners: MR.G.DHARMA RAO
URBAN DEV.
MR. S. NAGESWARA REDDY
MS. K. ARUNA
(SC FOR VGTMUDA)
WP.No.23494 of 2008
BETWEEN:
Snehabhavana House Owners Welfare Society Gopaluram Village &

Grampanchayat, Regd. Office, H.No. 5-70, Jeevanmitra Nagar,
Gopalpuram (V), Warangal, Rep. by its President Sri Udayamarry
Krishnamurthy, S/o. U.B. Sharma, aged 50 yrs, Occ: Business R/o.
4-1/2. Kankadurga Colony, Gopalapuram Village, Warangal
... PETITIONER
AND
1 The State of Andhra Pradesh Rep. by its Principal Secretary

Municipal Administration & Urban Development Authority, Rep. by
its Vice Chairman, Hanamkonda, Warangal District.
2 The Kakatiya Urban Development Authority Rep. by its Vice
Chairman, Hanamkonda, Warangal District.
3 The District Collector, Warangal District, Warangal.
4 The Grampanchayath, Rep. by its Surpanch Gopalapuram
Grampanchayath and Village, Hanamkonda Mandal, Warangal
District.
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16
...RESPONDENTS
issue a writ order or direction more in the nature of writ of Mandamus declaring the
action of the Respondent NO.2 applying the impugned G.O.Ms.No.901 and 902
Municipal Administration & Urban Development (M1) dt. 31-12-2007 and issuing
regularization notices to the houses constructed with the permission and approved
plans of Gram Panchayat Gopalpuram, Gopalpuram (V) Warangal District as
ultravires illegal, arbitrary unconstitutional and pass such other order or orders.
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.SADASIVA RAO PAMULAPARTY
URBAN DEV.
MR. G. VISHWESHWAR REDDY
GP FOR REVENUE
G. ELISHA
(SC FOR ZPPS AND MPPS, TEL
REG)
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17
WP.No.2861 of 2009
BETWEEN:
J.R.Nagar Residents Welfare Association, Rep.by its President

Prof.(DR) B.R.K.Raju,S/o.Late Jagapathi Raju, R/o.Ground floor-1
Nandini Apartments, J.R.Nagar, Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam
District
... PETITIONER
AND
1 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal

Secretary, Municipal Administration & Urban Development
Secretarial ,Secretariat buildings, Hyderabad.
2 Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, rep. by its
Commissioner, Visakhapatnam.
...RESPONDENTS
issue an appropriate writ order or direction more particularly one in the nature of
writ of mandamus declaring the action of 1st respondent in issuing G.O.Ms.No.901
dated 31.2.2007 as amended by G.O.ms.No.112 dated 31.1.2008 (hereinafter the
"Amended Rules") passed thereunder, empowering the 2nd respondent to regularize
the buildings constructed without sanctioned plan and also the buildings
constructed in deviation of the sanctioned plan and compelling the innocent
purchasers to pay the penalizing amount having failed to take action against the
real violators of law is ultravires, illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional violative ofArticle
14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and in violation of the principles of natural
justice and to pass
Counsel for the Petitioner: MR. RAMA RAO GHANTA
URBAN DEV.
MR. N. RANGA REDDY
(SC FOR MPL. CORP. VSP)
The Court made the following common order:
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18
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE V. ESWARAIAH
AND
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR
WP.No.1069 OF 2008 & BATCH
COMMON ORDER: (per Hon’ble Sri Justice Vilas V. Afzulpurkar)
In this batch of cases the question posed for consideration is regarding the
validity of AP Act 9 of 2008, which amended the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation
Act, 1955 (for short ‘HMC Act’), Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1965,
Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Act, Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Act,
Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act, 1955 and the Andhra Pradesh Urban
Areas (Development) Act, 1975 and G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 issued
thereunder.
2. By the aforesaid amendment Act the HMC Act was amended by inserting
Sections 452-A, 455-A and 455-AA apart from substituting Schedule U and V of the
HMC Act. Similarly, with respect to the other allied Acts, in the Andhra Pradesh
Municipalities Act, 1965, Section 218-A was inserted and in the Andhra Pradesh
Urban Areas (Development) Act, 1975 under Section 2h(h) high rise buildings was
defined and Sections 41 and 43 were amended by inserting sub-sections. Further,
Section 46 was substituted by conferring power of regularization on the Vice-
Chairman and Section 46-A was inserted in the said Act. The said Act came into
force on 15.12.2007 having received assent of the Governor on 16.04.2008 and
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19
published in Andhra Pradesh Gazette Part IV – B (Extraordinary) dated 19.04.2008.
In pursuance of the powers conferred under Section 455-AA of the HMC Act as well
as Section 218-A of the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act and Section 46 of the
Andhra Pradesh Urban (Development) Act, the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.901
Municipal Administration and Urban Development (M1) Department dated
31.12.2007 titled “The Andhra Pradesh Regulation and Penalization of
Unauthorizedly Constructed Buildings and Buildings Constructed in Deviation of the
Sanctioned Plan Rules, 2007”. The aforesaid GO is applicable to the existing
buildings in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporations, the Urban Development
Authorities and the Municipalities in the State of Andhra Pradesh constructed after
01.01.1985 and before 15.12.2007. The said GO was published in Andhra Pradesh
Gazette Part – I (Extraordinary) dated 31.12.2007 and came into force from the
date of said publication.
3. In this batch of cases the aforesaid provisions of AP Act 9 of 2008 as well as
G.O.Ms.No.901 are questioned by the petitioners primarily on the ground that they
are ultravires the power of the Government in amending the HMC Act and the allied
Corporation Acts as well as in the AP Municipalities Act and the AP Urban Areas
(Development) Act. In some of the writ petitions only Section 455-AA is questioned
and in some writ petitions only the Rules under G.O.Ms.No.901 are questioned,
while in some other writ petitions the ordinance No.15 of 2007, preceding AP Act 9
of 2008 is questioned whereas in some of the writ petitions only the method of
penalization in the aforesaid GO is questioned.
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20
4. We have heard all the writ petitions together and in this judgment, though
we have separately dealt with each writ petition,
the area of challenge broadly as appearing in the batch of cases is indicated as
above.
5. Before we deal with the issue involved it may be necessary to set out the
previous history and the events leading up to the enactment of impugned GO. For
the sake of convenience those events are categorized under the following head and
broadly referred to as preamble.
PREAMBLE:
6. The HMC Act was enacted and enforced in the year 1955 whereas AP
Municipalities Act was enacted in 1965 and the AP Urban Areas (Development) Act
was enacted in the year 1975. The aforesaid acts seek to regulate, inter alia, the
constructions of buildings under the Building Rules, which are framed by keeping in
view the requisite Floor Area Ratio (FAR), the open space norms on all sides of the
building etc. Spurt in population explosion in the Hyderabad and other cities in
Andhra Pradesh over the decades, has also resulted in massive increase in demand
for built-up area in the cities including conversion of agricultural land into
commercial, industrial and institutional use within and around the cities leading to
overall demand for land and built-up areas. An Expert Committee, appointed by the
Government prior to taking up these impugned amendments, has found that
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21
massive unauthorized constructions have been made and some of the reasons
enumerated by the said committee are as follows:
1. Eagerness of applicant for maximum utilization of site to get maximum

returns.
2. High land cost and smaller plot sizes.
3. Building regulations not being accepted by applicants.
4. Non-regulation unauthorized layouts both by owners and authorities.
5. Land use controls.
6. Ineffective and inadequate development control machinery.
7. Dependence on lower staff for detection, issue of notices and demolition
and lack of interdepartmental co-ordination etc.
7. These and such other reasons resulted in massive unauthorized constructions
in and around the city and in municipal and urban areas in the State, which
ultimately resulted in the Government coming up with a scheme for regularization
of these unauthorized constructions under G.O.Ms.No.419 dated 30.07.1998. The
aforesaid GO was preceeded by similar schemes of regularization issued from time
to time between 1992 to 1998 and such schemes were extended to other municipal
and urban development areas in the State and under these various schemes the
regularization of constructions made before a particular cut off date mentioned
therein were sought to be regularized.
8. We have not been informed of any challenge to any of the said regularization
schemes taken out by the Government from 1992 to 1998 under various GOs
commencing from G.O.Ms.No.87 dated 12.02.1992 and ending with G.O.Ms.No.373
dated 01.07.1998. However, the last of the GOs being G.O.Ms.No.419 dated
30.07.1998 was challenged by way of public interest litigation (PIL) before this
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22
Court in WP.No.25011 of 1998. The Division Bench of this Court in
C. KULSUM REDDY AND OTHERS v. STATE OF AP1[1] examined the said aspect
of validity of G.O.Ms.No.419 dated 30.07.1998 and found that the said scheme of
regularization had no legislative sanction under the Act. This Court, therefore,
found that there was no power under any of the laws i.e. HMC Act, AP Urban Areas
(Development) Act, AP Town Planning Act etc. whereby illegal constructions could
be regularized and it was held that “…there is nothing in these provisions which gives
power to any authority including the Government to allow any person to make any
unauthorized construction and if such construction is made to regularize it...”
This Court, further, held in Para 4 of the said judgment as under:
“…If the State is empowered under definite entry to legislate and there
is no legislation it may exercise the power but once there is legislation the
Government cannot use its executive power to defeat the legislation. The only
way in such a situation is amendment in the legislation…”
9. In view of the above, this Court had quashed G.O.Ms.No.419 dated
30.07.1998 as being ultravires the provisions of HMC Act.
This resulted in the State Government enacting AP Act 6 of 2003.
The title of the said act was “An Act to provide for the regularization of the
unauthorized constructions in the areas of municipal corporations, municipalities
and urban development authorities and the matters connected therewith and
incidental thereto.” The preamble of the said Act lists out the details of various
regularization schemes commencing with G.O.Ms.No.87 dated 12.02.1992 up to
G.O.Ms.No.419 dated 30.07.1998 and also reference to the decision of this Court in
1
[1] 2002 4 ALD 2003 (DB)
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23
WP.No.25011 of 1998 dated 25.01.2002 referred to above whereunder
G.O.Ms.No.419, as above, was quashed. The preamble, further, recites that
consequent on quashing the aforesaid orders, the demolition of unauthorized
construction shall have to be taken up by the Government and whereas such
demolition of thousands of buildings shall result in causing hardship to the public
and such demolition might invite litigation from the public and involve huge
expenditure for the State exchequer. It also, further, recites that the Government
have regularized several unauthorized constructions as per the Government orders
issued from time to time and several persons paid huge amounts in response to the
orders issued by the Government in G.O.Ms.No.419 dated 30.07.1998 and whereas
the repayment of amounts already collected by the Government under the several
Government orders involves huge financial burden to the local authorities and
thereby hampering developmental programmes of the local authorities in the State
and whereas to avoid such hardship, huge financial expenditure and litigation, the
Government have decided to enact a law to empower the Government to regularize
the unauthorized constructions made in the said urban areas and to validate the
actions of the authorities in regularizing the unauthorized constructions in
pursuance of the orders issued by the Government from time to time.
10. In the background of the aforesaid preamble, Section 2 of the said
amendment Act provided that notwithstanding anything contained in the HMC Act,
1955, the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1965 and the Andhra Pradesh Urban
Areas (Development) Act, 1975, the Government shall have power to regularize
unauthorized constructions made by the owners or individuals, who constructed the
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24
buildings unauthorizedly or in deviation of the sanction plan up to 30.06.1998, filed
voluntary declarations or applications for regularization as stipulated in the various
Government orders and to regularize the same after levying the penal amount in
accordance with the procedure prescribed or the orders issued in this regard.
Further, Section 3 inserted and enacted under the said amendment act has
validated all the actions taken by the competent authorities to regularize the
unauthorized constructions under the aforesaid G.O.Ms.No.419 dated 30.07.1998.
It is to be noted that the aforesaid AP Act 6 of 2003 was not challenged even earlier
nor is under challenge in the present batch of cases. As would be noticed from
above, the aforesaid act merely authorizes the Government to regularize
unauthorized constructions up to 30.07.1998.
11. The unauthorized constructions, which were regularized under the aforesaid
scheme of G.O.Ms.No.419 after the AP Act 6 of 2003, however, did not result in
curbing the menace of unauthorized and illegal constructions in the city and the
other urban areas including the municipalities. It appears to us that in view of the
repeated GOs issued by the Government from 1992 onwards commencing with
G.O.Ms.No.82 referred to above, a perception was created among the builders and
citizens that even if unauthorized constructions are taken up and completed,
eventually the Government would come up with another regulation scheme and
such violators would get away with the violations with impunity. It is also to be
noticed that even in spite of these legislative enactments inclusive of AP Act 6 of
2003 no stringent penal provision was introduced in any of the municipal laws
dealing with the Corporations or Municipalities or other urban areas, with the result
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25
the building activity continued unabated either with sanction or without sanction
and as such, the activity became so uncontrollable that the municipal authorities,
either designedly or on the pretext of want of staff and machinery, were unable to
take any preventive action including any drastic action of demolition of such
unauthorized constructions.
12. One such matter came up before this Court when a Division Bench of this
Court was hearing WA.No.2130 of 2005. The said writ appeal was concerned with
the unauthorized constructions made in Begumpet area of the twin cities and this
Court had passed series of orders, which are apt to be extracted here. On
02.02.2006, this Court observed as under:
“In compliance of the direction given by the Court on 21.12.2005,

Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad has supplied list of the
cases pending in the courts at Hyderabad and Secunderabad, in which
injunctions have been granted at the instance of the parties who have raised
constructions in violation of the sanctioned building plans. In some of these
cases, buildings have been or are being constructed without obtaining
sanctioned plan.
Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad, is directed to obtain
necessary information from the concerned courts to which all the injunction
matters were transferred, and send the same to this Court indicating the
disposal of injunction applications by those courts. The needful be done within
a period of two weeks from today.
In reply to the Court’s query, learned counsel for Municipal
Corporation, Hyderabad submitted that violations of various provisions
concerning the erection of buildings invites fine as enumerated in Schedule U
of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, 1955 (for short ‘the Act’).
We have gone through Schedule U of the Act and find that the fine
prescribed therein is highly insignificant and does not operate as deterrent
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26
against the illegal constructions.
The schedule was framed more than 50 years ago. It is high time that the
Schedule is adequately revised and the fine is made substantially punitive.
Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad is directed to file an
affidavit after consulting experts on the subject and suggest quantum of fine
which may be imposed in cases of different kinds of violations of sanctioned
buildings plans. The needful be done within two weeks from today.
In order to obviate the possibility of misuse of injunction orders passed
by the subordinate courts at Hyderabad and Secunderabad, we deem it
proper to direct that none of the plaintiff shall be entitled to continue with the
construction activities on the strength of the injunctions orders passed by the
civil courts.
Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad is directed to issue public notice
within 48 hours from today incorporating this direction of the Court so that
the violators of the building plans and other statutory provisions may become
aware of the possibility of a direction being given by the Court for demolition
of the illegal and unauthorized constructions.
The case be listed on 17th February,2006.”
In pursuance of the above orders, a High Level Expert Committee has been
constituted vide G.O.Rt.No.177 M.A & U.D. Department, dated 18.02.2006 to
suggest necessary amendments to Schedule “U” of the HMC Act, 1955 and AP U A
(D) Act, 1975 with special emphasis on the quantum of fines to be imposed in cases
of different kinds of building violations.
This Court in W.A.No.2130 of 2005 in its orders dated 21.02.2006 has issued
directions that
“Committee constituted by State Government vide G.O.Rt.No.177

dated 18.02.2006 shall also look into the following issues:
i) Whether the minor deviations made in the construction of buildings
after obtaining sanctioned plan should be regularized
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ii) The committee should also go into the issue of regularization of
constructions made without obtaining sanctioned plan and suggest
whether such constructions made up to this day can be regularized on
the condition of submission of building plan to the competent authority
and sanction thereof subject to payment of heavy fine/penalty.
The High Level Expert committee has submitted its first report on 17.05.2006
and second report on 07.07.2006. The Committee has made following
recommendations:
i) Enhanced Penal rates under Schedule U & V of Municipal Corporation

Act and A.P.U.D.A Act for various building violations suggested.
ii) To formulate a scheme to penalize unauthorized constructions made
up to a specified date and up to certain limits to avoid hardships to
owners of such unauthorized constructions.
iii) The rates for penalization of these existing unauthorized
constructions are also suggested.
iv) Amendments to Municipal Laws suggested.
The above reports were placed before this Court, and by further order dated
27.07.2006, observed as under:
“We have gone through the report, dated 26.07.2006 sent by the Chief
Judge, City Civil Court and have no hesitation to express our dissatisfaction
over the disposal of cases by nine Courts.
It appears that the attention of the Chief Judge has not been invited to
the earlier direction given by the Court for expeditious disposal of the
injunction suits in which Municipal Corporation, Hyderabad is a defendant.
The Chief Judge, City Civil Court should undertake a fresh exercise and assign
the suits for injunction and/or appeals in which Municipal Corporation,
Hyderabad and Hyderabad Urban Development Authority are defendants to
identified officers with specific instruction that they are expected to deal with
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and dispose of cases expeditiously without granting any adjournment.
It should be made clear to the officers concerned that any delay on their part
will be viewed by the High Court on judicial side with severe adversity.
The Chief Judge, City Civil Court should send further report within
fifteen days.
For consideration of that report, the case be listed on 22.08.2006.
Registrar (Judicial), Andhra Pradesh High Court is directed to
communicate this order to the Chief Judge, City Civil Court today itself.
Learned Advocate General has placed before the Court letter
No.28/TPS/MCH/HO/05 dated 07.07.2006 sent by Shri
M. Prasada Rao, Former Commissioner and Director of Municipal
Administration, Hyderabad to Secretary to Government, M.A. & U.D.
Department. This letter is accompanied by second report submitted by High
Level Expert Committee constituted by the State Government in furtherance
of the directions given by this Court.
We have gone through the second report and are of view that the fines
suggested in first report as well as second report is highly inadequate. In
order to check the menace of unauthorized constructions and violation of the
sanctioned building plans, it is absolutely imperative for the State to make
provision for levy of exemplary fines, which would operate as deterrent
against those who are in the habit of taking law into their own hands insofar
as the constructions of buildings and encroachment on public lands are
concerned.
It will be highly appreciated if the State, while amending the relevant
statutory provisions, delete the provision regarding compounding of violation
of municipal acts and other similar statutes which regulate construction of
buildings etc.
Other steps, which will go a long way to curb the menace of unauthorized and
illegal constructions is to make such activity cognizable offence and
constitution of special courts to deal with such cases.
The learned Advocate General says that the State Government has
already decided to bring about suitable amendments in the municipal
legislations keeping in view the recommendations made by High Level Expert
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29
Committee.
He says that this exercise is likely to take six to eight weeks.
While appreciating the stand taken by the State Government to
implement the recommendations of High Level Expert Committee, we deem it
proper to observe that the State Government may also keep in mind the
suggestions made by the Court while amending the statutes.
For consideration of the matter relating to the steps taken by the State
Government in furtherance of the reports submitted by High Level Expert
Committee and the observations made by this Court, the case shall be listed
on 28.09.2006.
With a view to curb the menace of illegal constructions in the garb of
order of status quo passed by the Courts, we direct that notwithstanding the
tenor and nature of the injunction orders passed in all the cases pending in
the Court at Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Ranga Reddy, none of the person,
who is a plaintiff or appellant before these Courts shall be entitled to raise
construction over the disputed site.
This would necessarily mean that all the injunction orders or orders of status
quo passed by the Civil Courts shall stand modified to that extent.
This unusual order has been passed by us because, we are informed
that in a majority of cases, the plaintiffs or appellants, after getting the order
of injunction from the Courts concerned, continue the constructions activities
and threaten the municipal authorities and the authorities of Hyderabad
Urban Development Authority with the initiation of contempt proceedings, if
steps are taken to stop the construction activities.”
13. The reports of the expert committee were in two parts viz. Report I and II.
The first report was submitted with covering letter dated 17.05.2006 by the
committee and the second report under covering letter dated 07.07.2006. The
reasons for unauthorized constructions, which are enumerated by the said
committee, are already mentioned earlier in this judgment. The committee also
noted the constraints in controlling the unauthorized constructions, which include
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30
lack of awareness among the citizens regarding necessity of having a building with
adequate open spaces to provide natural light and ventilation, gross and inadequate
town planning staff with urban and local bodies to regulate unauthorized
constructions, lack of modern equipment and trained personnel to demolish the
unauthorized constructions, inasmuch as submission of occupancy certificate to get
essential services viz. electricity, water, sewerage etc. and keeping in view the
necessity to control all unauthorized constructions, the committee suggested
amendments to HMC Act and various other measures including the amendment to
schedule U provided for levying of deterrent fine for violations. The committee also
suggested preventive action for regularizing unauthorized constructions and similar
amendments, which will be applicable to AP Municipal Corporations Act and AP
Urban Areas (Development) Act etc.
14. In the second report overall view of the various regularization schemes in the
past was taken and it also took note of the latest policy of the Government when it
had issued Hyderabad Revised Building Rules, 2006 in G.O.Ms.No.86 Municipal
Administration dated 03.03.2006 applicable to Hyderabad Metropolitan area and
extendable to all the urban areas in the State. The said policy was aimed at
effectively curbing the unauthorized constructions. However, with a view to tackle
large number of unauthorized constructions existing, particularly, in the major cities
of Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam neither there was manpower nor
machinery to take up demolition nor there was any provision to levy penalty. The
committee also noted that several persons have purchased the buildings without
any awareness about the deviation to sanction plan by the builder and it was
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31
practically not possible/feasible to demolish all unauthorized constructions. The
committee, therefore, recommended penalization of unauthorized constructions in
the development area of HUDA and in the urban areas including Municipal
Corporation of Hyderabad.
The recommendations of the committee included the suggested rates of structures,
which would be eligible for penalization and the proposed amendments to HMC Act
and AP Urban Areas (Development) Act were suggested. As would be noticed from
above, the said
II report was also placed before this Court as reflected from the order of this Court
dated 27.07.2006 extracted above.
15. Based on the above recommendations, steps were taken by the Government
to amend HMC Act, AP Municipalities Act, AP Municipal Corporations Act and AP
Urban Areas (Development) Act including amendment to the schedule U and V of
HMC Act and Urban Areas (Development) Act and consequently AP Act 9 of 2008
was enacted.
16. In the meanwhile, the HMC Act, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Act,
the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Act, the AP Municipal Corporations Act,
the AP Municipalities Act and the AP Urban Areas (Development) Act were amended
by enacting AP Act 6 of 2008, which received the assent of the Governor on
16.04.2008 and was published in the AP Gazette Extraordinary Part IV – B dated
18.04.2008. The aforesaid Act amended Section 461 of the HMC Act by inserting
sub-section 3 thereto and the said section provided for punishment or fine by any
Page
32
person, who undertakes or carries out construction or development of any land in
contravention of master plan or without permission, approval or sanction or in
contravention of any condition subject to which such permission, approval or
sanction has been granted. Further, a new Section 461-A was also inserted
empowering the Commissioner to make an order for removal or discontinuance of
any such unauthorized development or an order directing sealing of such
development. Similar provision was inserted in AP Municipalities Act by substituting
Section 340 with a new provision Section 340-A was inserted on the same lines as
Section 461-A referred to above. Similarly under the AP Urban Areas
(Development) Act, similar amendment was made by amending Section 41 and
inserting Section 43-A and all the said amendments were extended to and applied
to Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Act and Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation
Act and to any municipal corporation constituted under the AP Municipal
Corporations Act, 1994.
17. In the chronology thereafter, the AP Act 9 of 2008 was enacted to give effect
to the recommendations of the expert committee referred to above by enacting
Sections 452-A, 455-A and 455-AA and allied provisions in other cognate Acts and
G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 was issued, which is the last of the aforesaid
enactments, which are singularly or otherwise questioned in this batch of matters.
Now, we shall take up each of the individual writ petitions in this batch of cases in
the serial in which they were argued by the learned counsel on either side.
WP.No.1069 of 2008:
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33
18. This writ petition challenges AP Ordinance 15 of 2007, which later became AP
Act 9 of 2008. The petitioner also challenges G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 and
G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008, which partially amended G.O.Ms.No.901.
19. Mr. D. Srinivas, learned counsel for the petitioner contends that
G.O.Ms.No.901 affected the rights of the apartment owners.
The primary contention raised by the learned counsel, therefore, is the aforesaid
impugned enactments seriously affect the ecology and environment and affects
water supply, sewarage and traffic movement facilities and the impugned ordinance
and the rules violate the right of life of the citizens as it confers unbridled powers
on the Municipal Commissioner to regulate unauthorized constructions. It is also
contended that the previous attempt of the Government in 1998 vide
G.O.Ms.No.419 dated 30.07.1998 whereunder unauthorized constructions made up
to June 1998 were sought to be regularized, was quashed by this Court and again
the impugned provisions have been brought-in, which makes the regularization a
regular phenomenon. The said impugned ordinance and the scheme, therefore,
violates Articles 21 and 14 of the Constitution of India and also affects the AP
Apartments (Promotion of Construction and Ownership) Act, 1987.
20. In support of his contention, the learned counsel relied upon a decision of the
learned Single Judge of this Court in CSR ESTATES v. HUDA2[2]. The said decision
dealt with and interpreted various provisions of the AP Apartments (Promotion of
Construction and Ownership) Act wherein it was held that the said Act has been
2
[2] 1998 6 ALT 540
Page
34
given overriding effect vide Section 32 thereof and that once a declaration is given
by the builder relating to the plan under Section 4 of the Act, he cannot unilaterally
alter the plan and file amended declaration unless the said amended declaration is
duly executed and registered by all the flat owners.
21. He also cited a Division Bench judgment, which considered the appeal
against the aforesaid judgment of the learned Single Judge,
in C. SHEKAR REDDY v. CSR ESTATES FLAT OWNERS WELFARE
ASSOCIATION3[3], which affirmed the judgment of the learned Single Judge as
above. He has also relied on a decision in FRIENDS COLONY DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE v. STATE OF ORISSA4[4] decided by the Honourable Supreme Court
and particularly placed reliance on Para 25, which is extracted below:
“…Though the municipal laws permit deviations from the sanctioned

constructions being regularized by compounding but that is by way of an
exception. Unfortunately, the exception, with the lapse of time and frequent
exercise of the discretionary power conferred by such exception, has become
the rule. Only such deviations deserve to be condoned as are bona fide or are
attributable to some misunderstanding or are such deviations as where the
benefit gained by demolition would be far less than the disadvantage
suffered….”
In Para 26 the Supreme Court observed as follows:
26. The application for compounding the deviations made by the

builders should always be dealt with at higher level by a multi-membered
High Powered Committee so that the builders cannot manipulate. The officials
who have connived at unauthorized or illegal constructions should not be
3
[3] 2003 (3) ALD 553
4
[4] (2004) 8 SCC 733
Page
35
spared. In developing cities the strength of the staff, which is supposed to
keep a watch on the building activities should be suitably increased in the
interest of constant and vigilant watch on illegal or unauthorized
constructions.”
22. Learned counsel would, further, contend that powers of the Commissioners
under the impugned G.O.Ms.No.901 is unguided and arbitrary and no distinction
has been made between innocent and deliberate violations. It is contended that
relaxation granted to G.O.Ms.No.901 by further G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008 is
also liable to be declared as illegal as it deletes clause (i) from Rule 9 of
G.O.Ms.No.901. Clause (i) as originally drafted in G.O.Ms.No.901 was one of the
categories of the sites where penalization scheme was not applied and the same
was in the following words:
(i) Buildings that are in conformity with the land use approved in the master
plan/zonal development plan.
Under G.O.Ms.No.112 the said Rule 9(i) and 9(m) were deleted, with the
result there is no prohibition for penalization even where the buildings are not in
conformity with the approved land use (clause (i)) and the constructions made are
not within the building lines of major road of width 80 feet within the limits of
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC); Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam
Municipal Corporations and the road width of 60’ in the urban areas
(clause (m)). Under G.O.Ms.No.112 while the said clause 9(i) and 9(m) were
deleted Rule 5(3) was amended by inserting the sub rules
4 to 7 and Rule 5(7) substituted clause (m) of Rule 9 above. The said sub-rule (7)
Page
36
deals with the constructions made within the building lines of major roads as above
and provides that the regularization and penalization shall be done subject to the
property owner furnishing legally enforceable undertaking that he shall surrender
the land falling within the building line to local body or urban development authority
free of cost as and when required in future for road widening or other public
purpose.
23. As mentioned above, the learned counsel questions G.O.Ms.No.112 as well
on the same ground and has relied on a decision of the Supreme Court in M.C.
MEHTA v. UNION OF INDIA5[5]and particularly paragraphs 33, 53 and 61 thereof.
The aforesaid decision dealt with sealing of properties in Delhi, which were either
constructed or used contrary to the permissible use in the master plan and in that
context, the Honourable Supreme Court held that the constructions cannot be
permitted to go on in this manner forever.
It also felt that on the one hand various laws are enacted and expert planners
prepare master plans and on the other hand, the said illegal activities go on
unabated without having any respect for law and other citizens. Thus, though the
laws are passed, enforcement of laws and implementation of the orders is utterly
lacking, which results in total lawlessness and therefore, the identification of such
violators and appropriate action against such blatant misuse of properties and
large-scale violations cannot be ignored. The Supreme Court, therefore, expressed
5
[5] (2006) 3 SCC 399
Page
37
a very serious anguish against such violators. The learned counsel urged that the
violations in the present case also need to be viewed from the said angle.
WP.No.1894 of 2008:
24. The relief claimed in this writ petition is also similar to the one claimed in
WP.No.1069 of 2008 referred to above and the petitioners in this writ petition are
owners of two plots, who question the constructions made by respondents 4 to 10
while constructing a residential building. Individual plot owners are also made party
respondents 11 to 16 and it is alleged that while litigations were pending between
the parties the impugned ordinance and the GOs have been issued whereunder the
builder seeks regularization of unauthorized constructions. The ordinance itself is
issued to avoid debate on the Bill in either of the two Houses and as such, the
ordinance itself is brought out in an undemocratic manner. Previous attempts of
regularization by the Government in G.O.Ms.No.419 and its striking down by this
Court is also relied upon and the main contention raised is relating to sufferings of
the neighbours, who are affected by regularization and that their easementary
rights would be seriously violated.
25. He also questioned the process of regularization on the ground that civil and
writ proceedings against the illegal constructions are already pending between the
parties. Thus, primarily the petitioners are objecting the constructions, being made
by the neighbour, which are grossly unauthorized and which are sought to be
regularized under the impugned proceedings. By way of an amendment to the
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38
prayer vide WPMP.No.25638 of 2008 the subsequent G.O.Ms.No.112 dated
31.01.2008 was also challenged. Since the relief claimed is similar to the one in
WP.No.1069 of 2008 there is no impediment for allowing the said petition. WPMP is
accordingly ordered.
26. We have heard Sri S. Sainath, learned counsel for the petitioners.
27. Learned counsel would contend that the impugned proceedings affect public
interest and safety and the setbacks are necessary in the interest of neighbours. It
is also contended that under AP Act 6 of 2003 while the regularization of all
constructions between 01.01.1985 to 30.06.1998 are covered, the present Act
again refers to constructions made from 01.01.1985 to 15.12.2007. He contends
that though it stipulated that it is a one-time measure, the Government is resorting
to repeated measures of this nature. All the provisions of the impugned
G.O.Ms.No.901 provide that on such penalization and regularization though local
authorities shall issue proceedings and action for enforcement initiated or
contemplated against such offending constructions shall stand withdrawn and
occupancy certificate will be issued to the applicant vide rule 10 of the Rules.
According to the learned counsel such withdrawal of action seriously affects the
neighbour. He also contends that withdrawal of Rule 9(m) by subsequent
G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008 is also illogical and arbitrary.
28. Learned counsel has relied upon the following decisions in support of his
contentions. K. RAMADAS SHENOY v. THE CHIEF OFFICERS, TOWN
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39
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL6[6] and particularly he relied upon Para 28 of the said
decision. The aforesaid case arose out of a sanction granted by the Municipal
Council, Udipi where permission was granted to the contesting respondents to
construct a Cinema Theatre, which was objected to by the appellant on the ground
that construction of a Cinema Theatre was contrary to town planning scheme, as
the area is purely a residential area. While upholding the said contention the
Supreme Court observed in Para 28 as follows:
“An illegal construction of a cinema building materially affects the right

to or enjoyment of the property by persons residing in the residential area.
The Municipal Authorities, owe a duty and obligation under the statute to see
that the residential area is not spoiled by unauthorized constructions…
“If the scheme is nullified by arbitrary acts in excess application of the
powers of the municipal Commissioner, the Courts will quash the orders passed by
the municipalities in such cases.”
29. He also relied upon another judgment of the Supreme Court in V.M.
KURIAN v. STATE OF KERALA7[7]wherein exemption was granted by the
Government without there being any recommendations from the Greater Cochin
Development Authority and the same was held to be beyond the power of the
Government, as it could not act in the absence of such recommendations by
interpreting Rule 5 of the Rules, which fell for consideration. Another decision
relied upon by the learned counsel is that of a Division Bench of this Court in
6
[6] (1974) 2 SCC 506 = AIR 1974 SC 2177
7
[7] AIR 2001 SC 1409
Page
40
Y. JYOTHIRMOY v. MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF HYDERABAD,
HYDERABAD8[8] wherein the question involved was validity of the order of
demolition issued by the Commissioner with respect to unauthorized constructions,
though the proceedings for regularization of the unauthorized constructions under
2003 Act were pending. Further in Friends Colony’s case (4 supra) referred to
earlier is also relied upon. Another judgment of the Supreme Court in CONSUMER
ACTION GROUP AND ANOTHER v. STATE OF TAMIL NADU9[9] is also relied
upon, particularly Para 41 thereof.
30. Learned counsel also relied upon the decision in L. CHANDRA KUMAR v.
UNION OF INDIA10[10], which laid down law relating to judicial review vested in
the High Court and Supreme Court under Articles 226 and 32 respectively of the
Constitution of India. It is held as part of the basic structure of the Constitution of
India and as such the decision of all Courts and tribunals within the respective
jurisdiction are held to be subject to judicial superintendence of the High Court and
the Supreme Court.
WP.No.7542 of 2008 & WP.No.4409 of 2006:
31. In these writ petitions neither AP Act 9 of 2008 nor G.O.Ms.No.901 is
questioned and as such these writ petitions are deleted from this batch to be heard
8
[8] 2007 (2) ALD 533 (DB)
9
[9] AIR 2000 SC 3060 = (2000) 7 SCC 425
10
[10] AIR 1997 SC 1125
Page
41
separately.
WP.No.542 of 2008:
32. The relief sought in this writ petition is questioning the inaction of the
Municipal Corporation of Vijayawada in preventing the illegal constructions being
made by the respondent No.2 and consequently for direction to the Municipal
Corporation to take action and demolish the illegal constructions.
33. In the counter filed by the second respondent it was alleged that he has
made application to the first respondent for regularization of deviation of the
construction in terms of amended provisions i.e. Sections 455-A and 455-AA and in
terms of regularization and penalization scheme and in that context the writ
petitioner had contended that even the Commissioner cannot use his discretion to
regularize unauthorized constructions contrary to public interest.
A learned single Judge of this Court under order dated 12.08.2008 was of the
opinion that since the interpretation of virus of Sections 455-A and 455-AA is being
considered in WP.No.1069 of 2008 and batch, this writ petition was referred to be
heard along with this batch.
34. Learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. S. Ramachandra Rao, submitted the
following points for consideration and relied upon several decisions of the Supreme
Court.
1. Sections 452-A, 455-A and 455-AA introduced by Act 9 of 2008 enable

regularization of structures which are in violation of floor area or which
Page
42
are constructed without sanctioned plan or which are in deviation of
the sanctioned plan. The public policy behind such a provision appears
to be to protect owners of property from undue harassment by
Municipal Officials for small deviations of sanctioned plan and protect
the right of the owners of properties to put their property to use which
they choose.
2. All these sections say the Commissioner “may” regularize such

constructions. The word “may” indicates that it is not mandatory for
the Commissioner to regularize such construction merely because an
application for regularization is made. This implies that the
Commissioner may also refuse to Regularize and relied upon a decision
of the Supreme Court in
THE LABOUR COMMISSIONER v. BURHANPUR TAPTI MILLS
LIMITED11[11], particularly Para 9.
3. The commissioner may regularize such constructions where the public

interest in not regularizing the construction outweighs the private
interest of the Builder who built such constructions or of the
purchasers who purchased such constructions. Some of the public
interest criteria are set out in Rule 9 in G.O.Ms.No.901 dated
31.12.2007. In cases covered by Rule 9, the Commissioner can refuse
to regularize.
4. The order of the Commissioner involves civil consequences as rights of

the violator of the building rules and that of the other affected parties
like neighbours would be adjudicated. It is settled law that a hearing
should be provided to a party whose rights are likely to be prejudiced
by any order likely to be passed by a quasi judicial or administrative
body involving civil consequences.
Although the Sections 452 A, 455-A and 455-AA and
G.O.Ms.No.901 do not mention of any opportunity to be given to
persons who are likely to be effected by proposed regularization, such
a requirement has therefore to be read into the said G.O. and also the
11
[11] AIR 1964 SC 1687
Page
43
statute. The Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, 1955 does not
exclude the operation of the principles of natural justice and therefore
principles of natural justice must be red into the stature and the
neighbours or other persons likely to be affected by the order of
regularization must be heard before the orders are passed by the
Commissioner in exercise of powers under these sections. The learned
counsel relied upon the following decisions of the Supreme Court in
MANEKA GANDHI v. UNION OF INDIA12[12], particularly Paras 32,
57, 58 and 59 thereof; INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
OF INDIA v. L.K. RATNA AND OTHERS13[13], Para 16 thereof; S.C.
AND WEAKER SECTION WELFARE ASSOCIAIOTN (REGD.) v.
STATE OF KARNATAKA14[14], Para 15 thereof.
5. The Municipal laws regulating the building construction activity may

provide for regulations as to set-backs, floor area, the number of
floors, extent of height of the building and the nature of use to which a
built up property may be subjected in any particular area. The
individuals as property owners have to pay some price for securing
peace, good order, dignity, protection and comfort and safety of the
community. Thus the object behind the rules is maintenance of public
safety and convenience.
6. The Municipal Corporation being a creature of the statute is bound to

carry out its functions within the four corners thereof. It is required to
follow the statute scrupulously.
7. While exercising the power conferred by the above sections, the

Commissioner has to balance the interest of the violator and the
interest of the public including neighbours and other persons in the
locality depending upon the nature and degree of violation of the
statute and the rules made thereunder. He also relied upon a decision
12
[12] AIR 1978 SC 597
13
[13] AIR 1987 SC 71
14
[14] AIR 1991 SC 1117
Page
44
of the Supreme Court in Consumer Action Group’s case (9 supra),
Para 30 thereof.
8. Neighbours who are affected by illegal constructions have locus standi

to challenge such constructions or oppose their regularization by the
Commissioner.
This has to be implied into the statute and the regulations as it is in
the public interest to do so. He relied upon the following decisions: K.
RAMADAS SHENOY’s case (6 supra), Paras 27 to 29 thereof;
BHAGWANDAS AND OTHERS v. HARISH CHETWAL AND
15[15] 16[16]
ANOTHER ; K. JAWAHAR REDDY v. STATE OF AP , Para 18
thereof and YASSEEN KHATOON v. COMMISSIONER, MUNICIPAL
CORPORATION OF HYDERABAD17[17]; Para 15 thereof.
9. Any exercise of the power to regularize illegal constructions without

hearing the affected parties such as neighbours would be violative of
Article 14 and 300-A of the Constitution of India and also the principles
of natural justice and void. He relied upon a decision of the Supreme
Court in STATE OF ORISSA v. DR. BINAPANI DEI18[18], Para 9
thereof.
10. The purpose behind the building Rules in relation to set-backs is that
not only the property owner but also his neighbours have adequate
privacy and would get natural light and air which would promote public
health, peace and public convenience. It is open to a neighbour to
waive such right or acquiesce in its violation if he chooses to do so.
But where there is no such waiver or acquiescence, such rights have to
be upheld and no order of regularization should be passed in such
cases.
15
[15] 1983 (1) ALT 78 NRC
16
[16] 2003 (3) ALD 195
17
[17] 2005 (4) ALT 252
18
[18] AIR 1967 SC 1269
Page
45
35. Since the virus of the impugned provisions is alone being decided in this
judgment, all other aspects in the writ petition are not dealt with herein. The writ
petition is accordingly deleted from this batch to be heard separately by an
appropriate learned Single Judge.
WP.No.2063 of 2008:
36. In this writ petition the relief sought for is similar to WP.No.1069 of 2008 in
addition to the petitioner seeking a consequential direction to the second
respondent – Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, not to regularize the
unauthorized constructions made on the pent house at the premises in question.
37. It is alleged in the affidavit that a civil litigation questioning the said
unauthorized construction is pending between the parties in O.S.No.1548 of 2003
before the I Additional Junior Civil Judge, Visakhapatnam. Here also the previous
regularization scheme in G.O.Ms.No.419 dated 30.07.1998 was questioned by the
petitioner in WP.No.25011 of 1998, which was later, allowed by Division Bench.
However, later the validation Act 6 of 2003 was passed by the State Legislature and
later the present impugned provisions and the scheme of penalization is issued by
the State. Thus, the basic contention raised by Smt. S.V. Ratnam, learned counsel
for the petitioner is that the impugned provisions are contrary to the rights
conferred on the neighbour or affected parties under the AP Apartments (Promotion
and Construction of Ownership) Act, 1987.
WP.No.15611 of 2008:
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46
38. The petitioners seek to challenge only G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 and
G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008 as illegal and arbitrary and violative of Articles 21
and 300-A of the Constitution of India and seek a consequential direction to the
second respondent – Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) not to
regularize the illegal constructions by respondents 4 to 9 and other reliefs.
39. We have heard Sri G. Chandraiah Naidu, learned counsel for the petitioners,
who contended that the impugned GOs violate citizens right to free air and light. He
also made exclusive reference to the brochure published by the respondents while
answering various queries of the citizens regarding the penalization scheme under
the chapter ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ in the said brochure. Learned counsel
placed reliance on I. R. COELHO v. STATE OF TAMIL NADU19[19]. This decision
concerns and deals with the questions relating to laws placed in Schedule IX of the
Constitution of India and where the protective umbrella of Article 31B and the basic
power of judicial review are considered. Learned counsel relied upon several
paragraphs in the said judgment viz. Paras 51, 102, 103, 135, 144 and 146 wherein
the Supreme Court dealt with the power of judicial review, basic structure of the
Constitution of India and the questions considering the extent of judicial review
permissible in spite of IX schedule laws in the light of the basic structure theory.
We are afraid the said decision has no relation to the issue involved in this batch of
writ petitions.
19
[19] AIR 2007 SC 861
Page
47
40. Similarly, the learned counsel relied upon a judgment of MAHENDRA
BABURAO MAHADIK v. SUBHASH KRISHNA KANITKAR20[20], which arose out
of applications made for regularization, which were found to have suffered from
willful suppression of material facts even before the Supreme Court and on facts,
the regularization was found not justified and permissible. The said decision also
did not deal with the question regarding the virus of the provisions as involved in
the present batch.
WP.No.17859 of 2008:
41. The relief sought for in this writ petition is seeking to declare the inaction of
the second respondent – GHMC in not taking steps to remove unauthorized
constructions contrary to the sanction plan as illegal and sought implementation of
general directions of Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) addressed to
the second respondent to take action against the unauthorized and illegal
constructions. In this writ petition, neither the amended provisions nor
G.O.Ms.No.901 or 112 is questioned. Further, the builder, who has made alleged
offending constructions, is also not impleaded as party. Hence, this writ petition is
also deleted from this batch to be heard separately by appropriate learned single
Judge.
WP.No.8578 of 2008:
20
[20] (2005) 4 SCC 99
Page
48
42. This writ petition is filed in public interest by Forum for Better Hyderabad
questioning the power of regularization conferred on the authorities under AP
Ordinance 15 of 2007 and the consequential G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007.
43. By WPMP.No.4539 of 2008 the petitioner has sought amendment of the
prayer to replace the AP Ordinance 15 of 2007 by the words AP Act 9 of 2008. We
had permitted the learned counsel for the parties to make submissions with regard
to the said amended relief and as such the application is allowed. In this writ
petition,
a private party respondent sought leave to implead him and to oppose the writ
petition vide WPMP.No.14513 of 2008. We had heard the party-in-person also and
as such the application is allowed.
44. Sri K.S. Murthy, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the
impugned provisions of G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 violate the
73rdConstitutional amendment. He relied upon Articles 243-G, 243-W and 243-ZE to
contend that the impugned provisions take away the fundamental authority of the
local self-government.
He also contended that regularization of offending constructions would seriously
affect civic amenities. He also submitted that National Building Code stipulations are
grossly violated by these unauthorized constructions and as such regularization
contrary thereto ought not to be allowed. According to the learned counsel
structural stability of the constructions and thereby right to life is not kept in mind
by the respondents and as such structural safety is required to be insisted upon not
Page
49
only for high rise buildings but also for non-high rise buildings. The proportion of
population and building density in zonal development plan is also being ignored
resulting in serious strain on the civic amenities. According to him, no proper
groundwork and study has been made either by the municipal corporation or by the
urban development authority and challenges the impugned provision as arbitrary.
45. Learned counsel relied upon a decision of the Supreme Court in Kurian’scase
(7 supra), which is referred to above. We have already quoted that the aforesaid
decision has no application as on facts it was found by the Honourable Supreme
Court that the Government had granted exemption without there being any
recommendations as required under law. Learned counsel also relied upon a
decision of the Supreme Court in Friends Colony’scase (4 supra), which is also
referred to above. Finally, the learned counsel would contend that affected persons
must have an opportunity to ventilate their grievances. Learned counsel finally
would place reliance on a decision of the Supreme Court in STATE OF RAJASTHAN
v. H.V. HOTELS (P) LIMITED21[21] for the proposition that power of exemption is
not to be exercised freely and the power to relax a building rule, regulation or
requirement is an exception to the rule and it is to be used with caution and for the
further proposition that regularization of floor area ratio could not have been
granted without Development Authority being impleaded as a party. In the said
decision the Honourable Supreme Court considered the power of relaxation
contained in the amended byelaws.
[21] (2007) 2 SCC 468

21
Page
50
WP.No.16381 of 2008:
46. This writ petition is filed questioning G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 and
G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008. Learned counsel for the petitioner moved an
application for amendment vide WPMP.No.4542 of 2009 on 20.02.2009 seeking to
challenge regularization and penalization rules as contrary to the principles of
natural justice. Since we have already heard the learned counsel on the said issue,
this application is allowed.
47. The writ petition is filed by the Apartments Residents Welfare Association,
which is said to be registered with the District Registrar, Visakhapatnam on
09.08.2005 and it has claimed that the petitioner has made several representations
including the one to the Honourable Chief Minister complaining of coercive steps
being taken by the official on the ground that the last date given in the impugned
GOs is getting over. It is contended that the aforesaid G.O.Ms.No.419 is illegal, as
it did not give any exemption to apartments and the penalization charges per flat
ought to have been fixed per square feet of the area of deviation and not at a flat
rate. Learned counsel criticizes the table in the annexure to the said GO on the
ground that it treats major and minor deviations with the same penalization
charges, which is arbitrary. According to the learned counsel, therefore, the
discretionary power vested in the Commissioner and the said GO is unchannelised,
vague and it is alleged that by this method the Corporation is collecting security
deposit from the builders as well as the penalization charges from the occupiers
Page
51
resulting in double taxation. He also contends that under Rule 8 small flats are not
exempted.
WP.No.6562 of 2008:
48. This writ petition is filed by a political party in public interest seeking
declaration that the regularization and penalization rules are ultravires and
arbitrary.
49. Learned counsel, Sri S. Niranjan Reddy, appearing for the petitioner contends
that the rules regarding penalization are challenged on the ground that instead of
collecting penalization charges from the builder the same is being collected from
bonafide purchasers. Learned counsel relied upon the objects of the Bill to contend
that while the aforesaid Bill and the scheme is aimed at penalizing the builder as a
deterrent measure, in effect the penalization charges are being levied and collected
from the occupiers, who are the bona fidepurchasers of the flats. Learned counsel
has filed brief note of his submissions, which primarily question the burden of
payment of penalization amount imposed on the occupier rather than the builder.
The aforesaid contention is supported by the provisions of Section 455-AA and
reliance is placed upon the words “deviation to the building made is sought to be
penalized” which invariably refers to the builder, who makes the deviation. The
words “made by the owner or as the case may be by any individual” as used in the
said provision, according to the learned counsel can only mean the builder or the
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52
owner and the innocent purchaser, who bonafidely purchases the flat, is not to be
penalized for acts or omissions of the owner or the builder.
50. The contention of the learned counsel in other words is that provisions of
Section 455-AA must be read in a manner that means the owner or builder
responsible for the construction and consequently are alone liable for payment of
penalization amount.
WP.Nos.16623 and 23494 of 2008:
51. These writ petitions are filed seeking a Mandamus declaring the action of the
second respondent – Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA) in applying
G.O.Ms.Nos.901 and 902 dated 31.12.2007 to the house constructed by the
petitioners without due permission from the Gram Panchayat, Gopalapuram,
Warangal District as illegal.
52. During the hearing of the writ petitions, We pointed out to
Mr. Y. Rama Rao, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners that the virus of the
provisions is not questioned by the petitioner and the only relief sought for is
G.O.Ms.Nos.901 and 902 are not applicable to the petitioner. The question involved
in the writ petitions, therefore, is really not the subject matter of this batch. These
writ petitions are accordingly deleted from this batch to be heard separately by an
appropriate learned Single Judge.
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53
WP.No.15787 of 2008:
53. The relief sought for in the writ petition is to quash the notices issued by the
second and third respondents i.e. Vijayawada Urban Development Authority and the
Commissioner, Tenali Municipality by declaring G.O.Ms.Nos.901 and 112 dated
31.12.2007 and 31.01.2008 respectively as illegal and void.
54. Sri Dharma Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner has brought to our notice
the impugned notices issued by the Commissioner, Tenali Municipality informing the
petitioner that he has constructed the building contrary to the plan and also with
deviations and brought to his notice the opportunity given for regularization of
unauthorized constructions. The earlier notices of the Vijayawada Urban
Development Authority dated 30.04.2007 points out the violation made by the
petitioner requiring him to submit explanation.
55. During the hearing, We pointed out to the learned counsel that as per the
document filed by him, Page No.23 of the material papers contains the letter of the
petitioner dated 14.07.2008 addressed to the Municipal Commissioner, Tenali
Municipality that the petitioner wants to regularize the building under BPS scheme
and paid Rs.10,000/- vide demand draft dated 12.07.2008 towards penalty and
requisite fee for regularization. We, therefore, pointed out to the learned counsel
that having sought regularization, the petitioner cannot turn around and question
the BPS scheme itself.
Page
54
56. Learned counsel, thereupon, has filed WPMP.No.6805 of 2009 seeking to
place on record the letter of the petitioner dated Nil addressed to the Municipal
Commissioner, Tenali Municipality seeking withdrawal of his application for
regularization. The petitioner, therefore, submits that his request for regularization
having been withdrawn, he is entitled to question the impugned GOs. Learned
counsel contends that the aforesaid impugned rules of regularization are arbitrary
and has relied upon the decisions of the Supreme court in MESSRS. DWARAKA
PRASAD LAXMI NARAIN v. STATE OF U.P.22[22] and A.N.PARASURAMAN v.
STATE OF T.N.23[23].
WP.No.2861 of 2008:
57. Another welfare association has questioned G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007
as well as G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008.
The contentions raised in this writ petition are similar to the one raised in
WP.No.6562 of 2008 referred to above.
58. Sri Ghanta Rama Rao, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the
official respondents have failed to discharge their statutory duty and on account of
their persistent failures, the menace of unauthorized constructions has grown up to
such proportion that the municipal bodies are unable to take up preventive action.
The penalization scheme now introduced again allows the builders to go scot-free
22
[22] AIR 1954 SC 224
23
[23] (1989) 4 SCC 683
Page
55
and only the innocent buyers will be compelled to shell down the penalization
amount. The said impugned GOs are accordingly questioned on the ground that
they are wholly arbitrary.
WP.No.7133 of 2008:
59. The writ petition challenges the ordinance 15 of 2007 and consequently
G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 and G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008 as
arbitrary, which aspect is being considered in this batch.
WP.No.16025 of 2008:
60. Petitioners seek to challenge G.O.Ms.Nos.112 and 113 dated 31.01.2008 and
the substance of the relief coupled with the averments in the affidavit show that
they are aggrieved by the lay out regularization scheme covered by G.O.Ms.No.113
whereas in this batch, we are considering the regularization scheme covered by
G.O.Ms.No.901. Hence, this writ petition is deleted from the batch to be heard
separately.
SUBMISSIONS OF THE LEARNED ADVOCATE GENERAL:
61. The learned Advocate General has taken us through the legislative history,
previous adjudications and the scope of the present batch of cases. He contends
that none of the petitioners have challenged the legislative competence of the State
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56
in enacting the
AP Act 9 of 2008 whereunder the impugned provisions – Sections 452-A, 455-A and
455-AA were enacted. Further, G.O.Ms.No.901 was issued in pursuance of Section
455-AA as in the nature of policy guidelines of the State and it is not, as if, that the
Commissioner of the Corporation is given an uncontrolled and unguided power and
discretion to regularize any construction. He, further, submitted that so far as the
provision similar to Section 455-AA enacted by the Tamil Nadu State by
incorporating Section 113A to the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971
is concerned, the same was held to be valid by the Honourable Supreme Court in
the case of Consumer Action Group’s case (9 supra).
62. The learned Advocate General also relied upon a decision of the Supreme
Court in GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH v.
P. LAXMI DEVI24[24], which contains a very in depth discussion on the theory of
judicial review of statutes and has relied upon several paragraphs of the said
judgment. It is his, further, submission that the resultant scheme, which is covered
by G.O.Ms.No.901,
has emerged after directions of this Court to appoint an Expert Committee and the
said committee having gone into the root cause and the manner of deviations, has
suggested remedial action as well as the mechanism, which is to be adopted
hereafter to ensure that such maladies do not recur. As per the said high-level
expert committee report, the Government has examined the entire issue and the
24
[24] AIR 2008 SC 1640
Page
57
same was also apprised by this Court in the earlier writ petition referred to in the
preamble of the judgment above and after duly providing necessary safeguards in
the scheme itself, the regularization is proposed. According to the learned Advocate
General, therefore, the regularization is not with respect to all and sundry violations
irrespective of the other necessary requirements of planned development of the city
and in that view of the matter, Rule 9 of the Rules framed under the G.O.Ms.No.901
clearly provide the necessary safeguards and it is not, as if, that the wholesale
regularization is envisaged under these rules. He, further, contends that basically
the impugned scheme is not for regularization but for penalization.
The report I & II of the high-level expert committee is, thus, relied upon, reference
to which is already made in the preamble of the judgment above.
63. To the extent of meeting the allegations in the individual writ petitions, the
learned Advocate General submits that individual grievance of the neighbours
including their claims under the Easements Act or affecting such other civil rights
are concerned, the aforesaid scheme would not affect the same inasmuch as the
scheme merely envisages penalization of irregular and illegal constructions from the
standpoint of municipal laws. He also points out that regulation 9(j) which
stipulates that sites under legal litigation/disputes regarding ownership of the site
or building are not covered by the aforesaid scheme, such individual grievances are
open to be adjudicated upon before any law Courts and inasmuch as such dispute
between the builder/owner and the neighbour would not give rise to any cause of
action for a neighbour to challenge the very scheme itself. He, further, submits that
the cases of individual buildings and the grievances made by the neighbours against
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58
the offending constructions, therefore, has no relevance to the issue involved in this
batch. The scheme of penalization cannot be said to be arbitrary based on such
individual grievances and the invocation of Article 21 by the petitioners is totally
misplaced as on facts each of such cases the infringement of civil right is alleged.
Similar contentions based upon the AP Apartments (Promotion of Construction and
Ownership) Act, 1987 are also not sustainable inasmuch as the very wording of
Section 455-AA is with reference to municipal laws in general viz. HMC Act, AP
Municipalities Act, AP Municipal Corporations Act and AP Urban Areas
(Development) Act. The regularization and penalization is intended only so far as
the aforesaid acts are concerned and in view of that the Apartments Act or the
rights or liabilities thereunder remains unaffected.
64. Learned Advocate General, lastly, submits that in view of enactment AP Act 6
of 2003 the statutory basis was provided for earlier regularization scheme under
G.O.Ms.No.419 dated 30.07.1998 and thereby the defect pointed out by this Court
in C. KULSUM REDDY’s case (1 supra) was cured and the validation of
regularization under the aforesaid scheme and the regularization made under the
aforesaid scheme were statutorily validated and the same remains unchallenged.
Later, the State also enacted AP Act 6 of 2008 whereunder all the municipal laws
were amended to provide fine to the tune of 10% of the value of the land for any
contravention or with imprisonment with a term, which may extend to three years
and thereby the Legislature has taken stringent action against the said violations
and the further provision for sealing of the property is also added, inasmuch as vide
Section 461(4) and Section 461-A so far as HMC Act is concerned. Further, under
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59
the present AP Act 9 of 2008 the enactment of Section 452-A provides for
regularization of violations and floor area ratio in non high-rise buildings, which is
available up to 10% of the permissible setbacks on payment of fine as provided.
Similarly, under Section 455-AA the buildings constructed without sanction plan can
be regularized provided necessary plan,
on payment of requisite fee, is submitted together with all parameters of all
relevant laws including Fire Services Act and National Building Code is satisfied.
65. Learned Advocate General points out that there is no serious challenge to
these two provisions viz. Sections 452A and 455A by any of the petitioners. So far
as Section 455-AA is concerned, the said provision enables the Commissioner to
regularize and penalize the constructions either unauthorizedly made or in deviation
of sanction plan as a one time measure subject to payment of penal amount as
prescribed and compliance with necessary guidelines of the State policy guidelines,
which are set out in detail in G.O.Ms.No.901.
It is stated that the discretion of the Commissioner is neither unguided nor
unchannelized and as such, the Article 14 of the Constitution of India is not
attracted on the facts and circumstances of the case.
66. Learned Advocate General brought to our notice that G.O.Ms.No.901
underwent amendment vide G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008 and the later GOs
were issued in view of several representations received by the Government from
various quarters including public and accordingly, the said modifications are made.
Page
60
Primarily, under the aforesaid modification, the time limit of 90 days as stipulated
under Rule 3 of G.O.Ms.No.901 was split into two parts i.e. 50% of the amount
along with submission of application and balance 50% within a period of six months
thereafter. The same, therefore, cannot be said to be arbitrary. Further,
amendments to Rule 5(7) really ensures that even though the regularization of
buildings is made within the building line of major roads of the width of 80’, the
same is subject to giving an undertaking by the owner/builder that if required for
road widening in future or any other purpose,
he shall forego that part of the construction falling within the building line, free of
cost. The said provision, therefore, sufficiently safeguards the road width and the
building lines and even if clause (m) of Rule 9 is deleted the said amended Rule
5(7) would take care of the situation fully. Further, with regard to Rule 8 it was
amended to provide RCC house up to two stories i.e. G+1 in sites up to 100 sq.
meters, as against earlier Rule 8 providing for single storey in sites up to 100 sq.
yards, also is in public interest and as such not arbitrary. Similarly, the deletion of
clause (i) of Rule 9 also cannot be said to be arbitrary in view of several
representations received by the Government seeking deletion of the said clause.
The said G.O.Ms.No.112 has, further, reduced penalization charges also with a view
to make it affordable for general public and for rationalization thereof, which cannot
be said to be arbitrary. The time limit of 90 days prescribed in Rule 3 of
G.O.Ms.No.901 within which the application for regularization or penalization could
be made was further extended by the Government in (i) G.O.Ms.No.272 dated
28.03.2008 up to 30.04.2008; then further under (ii) G.O.Ms.No.328 dated
30.04.2008 time is extended up to 31.05.2008; further under (iii) G.O.Ms.No.384

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61
dated 31.05.2008 time was extended till 30.06.2008 and lastly under (iv)
G.O.Ms.no.455 dated 28.06.2008 it was extended till 15.07.2008. Thus, though
the time for making application is extended, the cut off date with respect to the
constructions made up to 15.12.2008 alone were permissible to be considered and
mere extension of dates for making applications would not affect the validity of the
impugned provisions.
Learned Advocate General, therefore, urged that these writ petitions being devoid
of merit are liable to be dismissed.
67. Apart from the learned Advocate General, Mr. J. V. Suryanarayana, senior
advocate, appearing for one of the respondents in WP.No.4409 of 2008 and
WP.No.7542 of 2008 made the following submissions. While the learned senior
counsel fairly conceded that Section 455-A is in public interest but questions the
validity of Section 455-AA on the ground that the discretion therein lacks any
guidelines. According to him, the legislative power so exercised is against public
interest and all unauthorized constructions are sought to be legalized under the
aforesaid provision. He also submitted that though it is styled as a one-time
measure, there are series of instances, on earlier occasions, where such
regularization schemes were issued by the Government and thereby allowed
rampant unauthorized constructions in the city and every builder and owner
continues to take up unauthorized constructions with impunity. Learned senior
counsel, therefore, submits that if such regularizations are to be allowed the other
regulatory provisions under the HMC Act and other municipal acts, which deal with
application of powers of the Commissioner to call for information of such
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62
unauthorized constructions, issue show cause notice against violations and power of
demolition, would all become otiose.
68. While dealing with G.O.Ms.No.901 the learned senior counsel would contend
that the definition of authorized technical personnel under Rule 2(1) is too vague
and what scrutiny would such technical personnel do under Rule 6 with respect to
any such application received is left entirely for such persons’ dictates, which is
clearly unguided. According to the learned counsel public interest and safety is
completely given a go by in enacting these provision.
Learned senior counsel relied upon some decisions of the Supreme Court in
PLEASANT STAY HOTEL AND ANOTHER v. PALANI HILLS CONSERVATION
COUNCIL AND OTHERS25[25]: Mahendra Babubrao’s case (20 supra): Kurian’s
case (7 supra); SUO MOTU PETITONER v. STATE OF RAJASTHAN26[26];
Maneka Gandhi’s case (12 supra) particularly Para 121 thereof, which deals with
Article 21 vis-à-vis the liberty of citizens; S.P. GUPTA v. PRESIDENT OF
INDIA27[27], particularly Para 22 thereof.
69. Mr. V. Venkataramana, learned counsel, appearing for respondents in
WP.No.1894 of 2008 supported the impugned provisions by contending that the
petitioners have failed to show any infringement of fundamental rights and has
relied upon a decision of Supreme Court in DHARAM DUTT v. UNION OF
25
[25] (1995) 6 SCC 127
26
[26] AIR 2005 RAJASTHAN 82
27
[27] AIR 1982 SC 149
Page
63
INDIA28[28]for the proposition that no motives can be attributed when the
competent legislature has enacted a law within its competence. The reasons for
enquiry into the motives, which persuaded the legislature into the passing of the
Act, are of no use while considering the validity of the Act. He also relied upon
SHRI RAM KRISHNA DALMIA AND OTHERS v. SHRI JUSTICE S. R.
TENDOLKAR AND OTHERS29[29], which a case arising out of commissions of
enquiry act and Para 11 is relied upon for the proposition that even the
classification made by the Legislature, if founded on different bases, according to
the objects sought to be achieved, the same would also be valid and not violative of
Article 14 of the Constitution of India. He has also lastly, relied upon
CONFEDERATION OF EX-SERVICEMEN ASSOCIATION V. UNION OF
INDIA30[30], particularly Paras 27 to 30 and 61 to 64.
SUBMISSIONS OF PARTY-IN-PERSON:
70. Mr. V. Sitaramaiah, party-in-person, has sought impleadment of himself as
respondent No.3 in WP.No.6562 of 2008 and the said implead petition
WPMP.No.11349 of 2008 was ordered on 25.09.2008. He has, accordingly, filed a
counter and supports the impugned provisions. In WP.No.8578 of 2008 also he has
filed a similar application for impleadment vide WPMP.No.14513 of 2008. We had,
28
[28] AIR 2004 SC 1295
29
[29] AIR 1958 SC 538
30
[30] (2006) 8 SCC 399
Page
64
accordingly, ordered the same on 20.02.2009. He has, thereafter, field a counter
affidavit with material papers and at his request, We have heard him also.
71. In the counter affidavit filed, he states that his son owns a flat in which he is
residing with his family members and sought impeladment as special power of
attorney to look after the flat’s welfare, court cases etc. According to him, the
impugned provisions and the BPS scheme is a welfare scheme by the Government
in the interest of general common class of people, who innocently purchased the
flats and houses, which contained inherent deviations. According to him, the entire
class of such bona fide purchasers is an exploited class, which has parted with their
life savings in purchasing the flats and
is residing there with their families for several years. According to him, the majority
of the buildings are constructed in deviation and violation of approved plan and if
one wants to by a flat there is hardly any building, which could be certified as in
conformity with the approved plan and the byelaws. He, therefore, submits that it
is the causal and lethargic attitude of the officials of the corporation, which has
resulted in the present menace where everybody has resorted to unauthorized
constructions and sold the flats to the innocent buyers and they are now made to
litigate, as builders have disappeared from the scene after selling the flats to
individuals. He, further, submits that the flat owners, now residing, are around two
lakh families, which are neither criminals, who violated the municipal laws nor are
even indirectly parties to such constructions and they being the only victims,
the striking down of provisions would only result in their flats getting demolished.
According to him, therefore, demolition of flats where two lakh families are residing
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65
and costing about Rs.40,000/- crores would be a complete national waste and he
criticizes the petitioners in WP.No.6562 of 2008 (Lok Satta Party) and WP.No.8578
of 2008 (Forum for Better Hyderabad) on the ground that instead of helping the
innocent two lakh families and helping the existing exploited members of public,
these writ petitions are filed challenging the impugned schemes. He submitted that
Rule 9 of the Rules gives complete safeguard to the public interest and the
Government interest and as such, no invalidation is attached to the impugned
provisions. He also submitted in his counter affidavits two alternatives viz. one
demolition of 50,000 illegal buildings working out to about 1 lakh flats and financial
loss to about 1½ lakh families and second alternative is penalization of illegal
constructions, which roughly comes out to Rs.12,000/- per flat. According to him,
therefore, quashing of the BPS scheme would be totally against public interest.
72. In the documents annexed to his counter affidavit he has filed sample
document showing inspection of unauthorized construction and illegal buildings
carried out in Malkajgiri Municipality vide Government Memo.No.1681/M1/07-1
dated 24.02.2007 which had noted that out of 317 buildings inspected deviations
were found in 313 buildings and only four buildings out of 317 buildings were
constructed as per approved plan. The violations regarding plot coverage accounted
for 294 out of 317, FAR violation was found in 253 out of 317, setback violation was
found in all the 317 buildings whereas parking violation was found in 81 and action
was initiated by the municipality only with respect to 23 cases out of which in 13
cases court cases were pending. 70 buildings, which were meant for individual
residential buildings were converted into residential apartments out of 241 and 23
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66
buildings, which were initially permitted for construction of individual residential
buildings were converted into residential cum commercial buildings. The reasons for
such lapses were also noted in the report, which primarily includes lack of
supervision and timely action by officials.
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67
QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:
73. In the light of the above rival contentions, the following questions arise for
consideration:
(i) Whether the AP Act 9 of 2008 is valid and enforceable?
(ii) Whether G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 issued under the impugned
provisions is arbitrary?
ANALYSIS:
Though the impugned provisions under Act 9 of 2008 refer to different
provisions inserted under the HMC Act, AP Municipalities Act as well as AP Urban
Areas (Development) Act, for the purpose of convenience reference herein is made
to the provisions in HMC Act as they are similar to the amendments to the other
allied Acts.
74. The Constitutional validity of the impugned provisions herein is required to be
examined in the light of the parameters of judicial review as laid down in various
decisions of the Supreme Court and various High Courts including this Court.
However, the latest decision of the Supreme Court has discussed the said aspect in
great detail and the judgment itself states that similar issues, which are often faced
by the Courts, are necessary to be clarified so as to lay down the scope of judicial
review in such cases. Since invalidation of statute is a grave step and the
presumption of Constitutionality being available with respect to the impugned
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68
legislation, We have carefully considered the submissions on the either side in the
light of the aforesaid decision of the Supreme Court reported in P. Laxmi Devi’s
case (24 supra). Before discussing the aforesaid decision it is to be noted that
there is no serious challenge in any of these cases with regard to Sections
452-A and 455-A under the AP Act 9 of 2008. In fact, as noted above, one of the
senior counsel appearing for the respondents, though supporting the petitioners,
has fairly stated that Sections 452-A and 455-A is desirable provision as it
envisages regularization subject to fulfillment of all statutory requirements. It has,
therefore, to be held that Sections 452-A and 455-A as valid.
75. In the decision of the Supreme Court in Laxmi Devi’s case
(24 supra) referred to above, the aforesaid issue viz. validity of statutory
provisions, was discussed from several angles and in Para 44 the Supreme Court
held as follows:
“44. In our opinion, there is one and only one ground for declaring an
Act of the legislature (or a provision in the Act) to be invalid, and that is if it
clearly violates some provision of the Constitution in so evident a manner as
to leave no manner of doubt. This violation can, of course, be in different
ways, e.g. if a State legislature makes a law which only the Parliament can
make under List I to the Seventh Schedule, in which case it will violate Article
246(1) of the Constitution, or the law violates some specific provision of the
Constitution (other than the directive principles). But before declaring the
statute to be unconstitutional, the Court must be absolutely sure that there
can be no manner of doubt that it violates a provision of the Constitution. If
two views are possible, one making the statute constitutional and the other
making it unconstitutional, the former view must always be preferred. Also,
the Court must make every effort to uphold the constitutional validity of a
statute, even if that requires giving a strained construction or narrowing down
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69
its scope vide Mark Netto vs. Government of Kerala and others, AIR 1979 SC
83 (para 6). Also, it is none of the concern of the Court whether the
legislation in its opinion is wise or unwise.”
Further, in Paras 49, 54 and 55, the Supreme Court observed as follows:
“49. In our opinion the legislature must be given freedom to do

experimentations in exercising its powers, provided of course it does not
clearly and flagrantly violate its constitutional limits.
54. In our opinion adjudication must be done within the system of
historically validated restraints and conscious minimization of the judges
personal preferences. The Court must not invalidate a statute lightly, for, as
observed above, invalidation of a statute made by the legislature elected by
the people is a grave step. As observed by this Court in State of Bihar vs.
Kameshwar Singh AIR 1952, SC 252(274) : "The legislature is the best judge
of what is good for the community, by whose suffrage it comes into
existence".
55. In our opinion, the Court should, therefore, ordinarily defer to the
wisdom of the legislature unless it enacts a law about which there can be no
manner of doubt about its unconstitutionality.”
In Para 59 the Supreme Court observed as follows:
“…Constitutional Law of India (3rd Edn.) page 119 found approval in

Delhi Transport Corporation vs. D.T.C. Mazdoor Congress, 1991 (Supp) 1 SCC
600 : (AIR 1991 SC 101). The Court held:
"Seervai in his book Constitutional Law of India (3rd Edn) has stated at page
119 that:
".......the courts are guided by the following rules in discharging their solemn
duty to declare laws passed by a legislature unconstitutional :
1) There is a presumption in favour of constitutionality and a law will not be
declared unconstitutional unless the case is so clear as to be free from doubt:
'to doubt the constitutionality of a law is to resolve it in favour of its validity'.
****
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70
2) A statute cannot be declared unconstitutional merely because in the
opinion of the court it violates one or more of the principles of liberty, of the
spirit of the Constitution, unless such principles and that spirit are found in
the terms of the Constitution"
In conclusion the Supreme Court has held in Paras 65 and 69 as follows:
“65. The Court must, therefore, make every effort to uphold the
constitutional validity of a Statute, even if that requires giving the statutory
provision a strained meaning, or narrower or wider meaning, than what
appears on the face of it. It is only when all efforts to do so fail should the
Court declare a statute to be unconstitutional.
69. All decisions in the economic and social spheres are essentially ad
hoc and experimental. Since economic matters are extremely complicated,
this inevitably entails special treatment for special situations. The State must
therefore be left with wide latitude in devising ways and means of fiscal or
regulatory measures, and the Court should not, unless compelled by the
statute or by the Constitution, encroach into this field, or invalidate such law.”
76. It is also to be borne in mind that the Courts have been adopting another
devise under the principles of reading down and the principles of severability, with a
view to save the Constitutionality of the impugned provisions.
77. It is now well-settled that if a part of the Statute or a Rule is found to be
offending the Constitutional safeguards and if such part is severable from the rest
so as to make the rest of the provisions valid and enforceable, the offending part
can be severed or read down so as to sustain the Constitutional validity of the rest
of the part of the statute. The principle of severability, undoubtedly, is attracted
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71
only when the rest of the provision independently exists and is enforceable without
the offending part.
78. The principle of severability is well recognized by the honourable Supreme
Court as early as in R.M.D.C. v UNION OF INDIA31[31] as well as in later decision
in SATYAWATI SHARMA v. UNION OF INDIA32[32]. In the last of the decisions
referred to above the Supreme Court had occasion to consider Section 14(1)(e) of
the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 making distinction between premises let for
residential and non-residential purposes by restricting landlord’s rights to seek
eviction of tenant from premises let for residential purposes only. When the validity
of the said provisions was in issue before the Supreme Court, the entirety of
Section 14(1)(e), which was impugned was not struck down and only part thereof,
which was offending the Constitution was severed without doing violence to the
remaining part.
79. In CALCUTTA GUJARATI EDUCATION SOCIETY v. CALCITTA
MUNICIPAL CORPN.33[33] the Supreme Court applied the rule of reading down a
provision of law to make the particular provision workable and to bring it in harness
with the other provisions of the statute. Para 35, which is relevant, is necessary to
be extracted:
“35. The rule of “reading down” a provision of law is now well recognized.
It is a rule of harmonious construction in a different name. It is resorted to
31
[31] AIR 1957 SC 628
32
[32] (2008) 5 SCC 287
33
[33] (2003) 10 SCC 533
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72
smoothen the crudities or ironing out the creases found in a statute to make
it workable. In the garb of “reading down”, however, it is not open to read
words and expressions not found in it and thus venture into a kind of judicial
legislation. The rule of reading down is to be used for the limited purpose of
making a particular provision workable and to bring it in harmony with other
provisions of the statute. It is to be used keeping in view the scheme of the
statute and to fulfill its purposes. See the following observations of this Court
in the case of B.R. Enterprises v. State of U.P. [(1999) 9 SCC 700]:
“First attempt should be made by the courts to uphold the charged
provision and not to invalidate it merely because one of the possible
interpretations leads to such a result, howsoever attractive it may be.
Thus, where there are two possible interpretations, one invalidating the law
and the other upholding, the latter should be adopted. For this, the courts
have been endeavouring, sometimes to give restrictive or expansive
meaning keeping in view the nature of legislation, may be beneficial, penal
or fiscal etc. Cumulatively it is to subserve the object of the legislation. Old
golden rule is of respecting the wisdom of legislature that they are aware
of the law and would never have intended for an invalid legislation. This
also keeps courts within their track and checks individual zeal of going
wayward. Yet in spite of this, if the impugned legislation cannot be saved
the courts shall not hesitate to strike it down. Similarly, for upholding any
provision, if it could be saved by reading it down, it should be done, unless
plain words are so clear to be in defiance of the Constitution. These
interpretations spring out because of concern of the courts to salvage a
legislation to achieve its objective and not to let it fall merely because of a
possible ingenious interpretation. The words are not static but dynamic.
This infuses fertility in the field of interpretation. This equally helps us to
save an Act but also the cause of attack on the Act. Here the courts have
to play cautious role of weeding out the wide from the crop, of course,
without infringing the Constitution. For doing this, the courts have taken
help from the preamble, Objects, the scheme of the Act, its historical
background, the purpose for enacting such a provision, the mischief, if any
which existed, which is sought to be eliminated. … This principle of
reading down, however, will not be available where the plain and literal
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meaning from a bare reading of any impugned provisions clearly shows
that it confers arbitrary, uncanalised or unbridled power.”
In the light of the above principles we have considered the issues raised
herein.
POINT No.1:
80. It is also to be noticed that legislative competence of the State in enacting
the aforesaid amendment Act is not in question in this batch of cases, as none of
the learned counsel for the petitioners have addressed submission on that behalf.
The validity of the impugned Act, therefore, has to be considered only from the
standpoint of whether the said Act is in conflict with the Constitution. With the
aforesaid in the background, it would be noticed that the main attack of the learned
counsel for the petitioners is on Section 455-AA of the HMC Act on the ground that
power of regularization and penalization conferred on the Commissioner is
unchannelized, unguided and as such, is arbitrary. The several decisions on behalf
of the petitioners are, however, not useful in considering the said aspect as the said
decisions are either relating to individual cases where regularization or exemption is
granted contrary to the Legislative mandate or in cases where undue favouritism to
a particular individual case is clear and apparent. For instance, the case of
Pleasant Stay Hotel’s case (25 supra) as well as Kurian’s case (7 supra) and
Mahendra Baburao Mahadik’s case (20 supra) would fall in the above category
and really are not cases, which deal with the vires of any provisions. In all those
cases, the exemption or regularization granted in individual cases was questioned
and validity thereof was decided. Similarly, the other decisions cited by some of the
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learned counsel for the petitioners viz. Maneka Gandhi’s case (12 supra);
PEERLESS GENERAL FINANCE AND INVESTMENT CO. LIMITED v. RESERVE
BANK OF INDIA34[34]; E.P. ROYAPPA v. STATE OF TAMIL NADU35[35]; L.
Chandra Kumar’s case (10 supra); K. Ramadas Shenoy’s case (6 supra) also do
not deal with the question involved in the present case, as discussed above.
81. The Division Bench decision of this Court in C. Kulsum Reddy’s case (1
supra), relied upon by some of the learned counsel for the petitioners to contend
that similar regularization scheme in G.O.Ms.No.419 dated 30.07.1998 was struck
down by this Court,
has also no relevance in view of the present legislative scenario.
The Legislature has provided, by amending the parent statute, the provision under
which the State is empowered to take up scheme of regularization. In fact, in the
aforesaid decision this Court itself has noted in Para 4 as follows:
“4. … If the State Government is empowered under a definite entry to

legislate and there is no legislation it may exercise the power but once there
is legislation the Government cannot use its executive power to defeat the
legislation. The only way in such a situation is amendment in the
legislation. This is settled law and the Courts have consistently taken this
view that when a power is sought to be exercised in a particular way by the
legislation the executive has to follow the methodology laid down by such
legislation.”
(emphasis supplied)
34
[34] AIR 1992 SC 1033
35
[35] AIR 1974 SC 555
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82. Y. Jyothirmoy’scase (8 supra) decided by another Division Bench of this
court was also a case, in the light of legislative environment, then existing. The
said scenario has now undergone a change by the Legislature enacting and
amending the parent acts by insertion of provisions 461(3) and 461-A so far as
HMC Act is concerned and allied provisions in the other municipal laws under AP Act
6 of 2008. Thus, under AP Act 9 of 2008, further amendments to the parent Acts
are made by inserting Sections 452-A, 455-A and
455-AA in the HMC Act and allied provisions insofar as other municipal laws are
concerned. Thus, the deficiency in the Act pointed out by the Division Bench of this
Court in C. Kulsum Reddy’s case (1 supra) is now been supplied by the
Legislature by amending the parent act and providing for legislative basis for such
scheme.
83. One of the learned counsel for the petitioners also relied upon Maneka
Gandhi’scase (12 supra) and particularly Paras 121 to 126 therein. We are at loss
to appreciate as to how the said decision helps the petitioners while supporting
their arguments on Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Right to life as claimed
by the petitioners is not merely that of the petitioners but all the owners of the
properties as well. The procedural safeguards and concessions granted with respect
to the constructions by law, therefore, cannot be said to deprive any fundamental
right to life of a neighbour and the contentions of the petitioners on that premise
are clearly unsustainable. It is in cases where setback violations take place or in
cases where the FSI or FAR is exceeded; then neighbour of such offending
construction may, at the most, claim that his easementary right or his right to light
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and air is affected but it would be wholly unsustainable for him to contend that his
right to life is being affected on account of such construction.
The challenge to the provisions from the standpoint of violations of Article 21 of the
Constitution of India, in our view, is, therefore, totally unsustainable and is liable to
be rejected.
84. Similarly, K. Ramadas Shenoy’scase (6 supra) relied upon by the
petitioners was a case where the challenge to the permission to construct a cinema
theatre in a residential locality was upheld by the Supreme Court. The proposition
that a neighbour has a right to object in such cases was upheld by the Supreme
Court in the following words as mentioned in Para 29:
“29. The Court enforces the performance of statutory duty by public

bodies as obligation to rate payers who have a legal right to demand
compliance by a local authority with its duty to observe statutory rights alone.
The scheme here is for the benefit of the public. There is special interest in
the performance of the duty. All the residents in the area have their personal
interest in the performance of the duty. The special and substantial interest
of the residents in the area is injured by the illegal construction.”
The said aspect is not in dispute and as has been discussed herein the legal
rights of the neighbours against offending constructions are neither taken away nor
are nullified by the provisions impugned in this batch of cases. The orders of
regularization or penalization, which are envisaged to be passed under the
impugned provisions, merely secures the said offending constructions from drastic
provisions, such as sealing, demolition etc. under the municipal laws. The
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apprehensions of the petitioners that all their rights, which are primarily in the
nature of easementary rights are lost on account of such regularization or
penalization is, therefore, fundamentally incorrect.
85. So far as the basic challenge to Section 455-AA is concerned,
the decision of the Supreme Court in Consumer Action Group’s case
(9 supra) a provision similar in nature viz. Section 113-A inserted in the Tamil Nadu
Town and Country Planning Act was considered by the Honourable Supreme Court.
For the sake of appreciation, it is appropriate to extract Section 113-A and Section
455-AA and allied provisions, which are as follows:
TAMIL NADU TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT, 1971:
“113-A. Exemption in respect of development of certain lands or

buildings.- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other
law for the time being in force, the Government or any officer or authority
authorized by the Government, by notification, in this behalf may, on
application, by order, exempt any land or building or class of lands or
buildings developed immediately before the date of commencement of the
Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 1988 (hereafter in
this section referred to as ‘the said date’) in the Chennai Metropolitan
Planning Area, from all or any of the provisions of this Act or any Rule or
Regulation made thereunder, by collecting regularization fee at such rate not
exceeding twenty thousand rupees per square meter, as may be prescribed.
Different rates may be prescribed for different planning parameters and for
different parts of the Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area.
(2) The application under sub-section (1) shall be made within ninety
days from the said date in such form containing such particulars and with
such documents and such application fee, as may be prescribed.
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(3) Upon the issue of the order under sub-section (1), permission shall
be deemed to have been granted under this Act for such development of land
or building.
(4) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to any application
made by any person who does not have any right over the land or building
referred to in sub-section (1).
(5) Save as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of this
Act, or other laws for the time being in force, and Rules and Regulations made
thereunder, shall apply to the development of land or building referred to in
sub-section (1).
(6) Any person aggrieved by any order passed under sub-section (1)
by any officer or authority may prefer an appeal to the Government within
thirty days from the date of receipt of the order.”
HYDERABAD MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ACT, 1955:
“455-AA. Notwithstanding anything in the Act, the Municipal

Commissioner may regulate and penalize the constructions of buildings, made
by the owner, or by an individual as the case may be, unauthorisedly or in
deviation of the sanctioned plan as on the date of commencement of the
Andhra Pradesh Municipal Laws and Urban Areas (Development) (Second
Amendment) Act, 2008 as a one time measure, as per the procedure and by
levying such penal amount as may be prescribed and upon payment of such
amount all pending or contemplated proceedings and action of enforcement
shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the competent authority shall
issue necessary Occupancy Certificate to the owner or the individual as the
case may be.”
AP MUNICIAPALITIES ACT, 1965:
“218-A. Notwithstanding anything in the Act, the Municipal

Commissioner may regulate and penalize the constructions of buildings, made
by owner, or by an individual as the case may be unauthorisedly or in
deviation of the sanctioned plan as on the date of commencement of the
Andhra Pradesh Municipal Laws and Urban Areas (Development) (Second
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Amendment) Act, 2008 as a one time measure, as per the procedure and by
levying such penal amount as may be prescribed and upon payment of such
amount, all pending or contemplated proceedings and action of enforcement
shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the competent authority shall
issue necessary Occupancy Certificate to the owner or the individual as the
case may be.”
AP URBAN AREAS (DEVELOPMENT) ACT, 1975:
“46. (1) It is open to the Vice-Chairman to regularize constructions

made without obtaining sanctioned plan subject to fulfilling the following
conditions:
(a) Submission of building plans to the competent authority duly
paying all categories of fees and charges.
(b) The construction shall be subject to the condition that all
parameters laid down in relevant statutes, Master Plan, Zonal
Development Plan, Building Bye-Laws, Building Rules and other
relevant Government Orders including Andhra Pradesh Fire Service
Act, 1999 and the National Building Code are satisfied;
(c) Payment of penalty equivalent to Thirty Three Percent (33%) of the
various categories of fees and charges payable by the applicant for
obtaining building permission in addition to the regular fee and
other charges payable.
(2) Any offence made punishable under this Act in respect o Non-High
Rise buildings may be regularized by the Vice-Chairman or any officer
authorized by the Vice-Chairman in this behalf to the extent of
violations made to the setbacks on each side of each floor except
building line up to 100% of the permissible setbacks, on payment of
fine equivalent to one hundred percent of the value of the land as fixed
by the Registration Department applicable at the time of regularization
in respect of violated floor area, subject to the condition that the
sanctioned plan has already been obtained in each case.”
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86. It would be noticed from the above provisions that substantially the
provisions are on similar lines. Before the Honourable Supreme Court also, a
contention was raised that the enactment of the aforesaid provisions does not
subserve the policy under the Act and public interest and the aforesaid provisions
merely seeks to legitimize all the violations under the Act and Rules and
Regulations and condones all executive acts, which is the cause of reaching the
situation on account of inaction of the Government machinery and that the said
provision would greatly prejudice public security, safety, fresh air, light and
convenience to the public at large. Para 36 of the aforesaid judgment dealt with
the aforesaid contention in the following words:
“36…Section 113-A read with the Statement of Objects and Reasons

clearly indicates Legislature's intent and policy, instead of demolishing illegal
constructions to regularise them by charging regularisation fees. Thus no
similar attributable vice could be attached to Section 113-A which was
submitted for Section 113. Section 113-A, Legislature itself lays down what is
to do be done by the Government, while in Section 113 Government is
conferred with wide discretion though to act within the channel of the policy.
In Section 113-A hardly any discretion is left on the Government while in
Section 113 very large discretion is left. Challenge to Section 113 is unguided
wide power to a delegatee, but no such challenge could be made against
Legislature. Section 113-A is mandate of the Legislature itself to grant
exemption and realise regularisation fees (sic) no discretion on the delegatee.
Hence we hold Section 113-A as a one time measure is valid piece of
legislation and challenge to its validity has no merit…”
(emphasis supplied)
In Paras 37 and 38 the Supreme Court recorded as follows:
“37. Mere reading of this reveals, administrative failure, regulatory

inefficiency and laxity on the part of the concerned authorities being conceded
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which has led to the result, that half of the city buildings are unauthorised,
violating the town planning legislation and with staring eyes Government feels
helpless to let it pass, as the period of limitation has gone, so no action could
be taken. This mess is the creation out of the inefficiency, callousness and the
failure of the statutory functionaries to perform their obligation under the Act.
Because of the largeness of the illegalities it has placed the Government in a
situation of helplessness as knowing illegalities, which is writ large no
administratively action of demolition of such a large number of cases is
feasible. The seriousness of the situation does not stay here when it further
records, this is the pattern in other metropolitan cities of India. What is the
reason? Does the Act and Rules not clearly lay down, what constructions are
legal what are not? Are consequences of such illegal constructions not laid
down? Does the statute not provide for controlled development of cities and
rural lands in the interest of the welfare of the people to cater to public
conveniences, safety, health etc.? Why this inaction? The Government may
have a gainful eye in this process of regularisation to gain affluence by
enriching coffers of the State resources but this gain is insignificant to the
loss to the public, which is State concern also as it waters down all preceding
developments. Before such pattern becoming cancerous to spread to all part
of this country, it is high time that remedial measure is taken by the State to
check this pattern. Unless the administration is toned up, the persons
entrusted to implement the scheme of the Act are made answerable to the
laches on their failure to perform their statutory obligations, it would continue
to result with wrongful gains to the violators of the law at the cost of public,
and instead of development bring back cities into the hazards of pollution,
disorderly traffic, security risks etc. Such a pattern retards the development,
jeopardises all purposeful plans of any city, and liquidates the expenditure
incurred in such development process.
38. We may shortly refer to the possible consequences of the grant of
such exemption under Section 113-A by collecting regularisation fees.
Regularisation in many cases, for the violation of, front set-back, will not
make it easily feasible for the Corporation to widen the abutting road in future
and bring the incumbent closer to the danger of the road. The waiver of
requirements of side set-back will deprive adjacent buildings and their
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occupants of light and air and also make it impossible for a fire engine to be
used to fight a fire in a high rise building. The violation of floor space index
will result in undue strain on the civil amenities such as water, electricity,
sewage collection and disposal. The waiver of requirements regarding fire
staircase and other fire prevention and fire fighting measures would seriously
endanger the occupants resulting in the building becoming a veritable death
trap. The waiver of car parking and abutting road width requirements would
inevitabely lead to congestion on public roads causing severe inconvenience
to the public at large. Such grant of exemption and the regularisation is likely
to spell ruin of any city as it affects the lives, health, safety and convenience
of all its citizens. This provision, as we have said, cannot be held to be
invalid as it is within the competence of State Legislature to legislate
based on its policy decision, but it is a matter of concern. Unless check
at the nascent stage is made, for which it is for the State to consider what
administrative scheme is to be evolved, it may be difficult to control this
progressive illegality. If such illegalities stays for a long, wave of political,
humanitarian regional and other sympathies develop. Then to break it may
become difficult. Thus this inflow has to be checked at the very root. State
must act effectively not to permit such situation to develop in the wider
interest of public at large. When there is any provision to make illegal
construction valid on ground of limitation, then it must mean Statutory
Authority in spite of knowledge has not taken any action. The functionary of
this infrastructure has to report such illegalities within shortest period, if not,
there should be stricter rules for their non-compliance. We leave the matter
here by bringing this to the notice of the State Government to do the needful
for salvaging the cities and country from this wrath of these illegal colonies
and construction.”
(emphasis supplied)
Section 455-AA, therefore, cannot be said to be ultravires the powers of the
State Government and the above decision itself answers similar contentions of the
learned counsel for the petitioners raised in this batch of cases.
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POINT No.2:
87. It is also to be noted that AP Act 6 of 2003 as well as AP Act 6 of 2008 was
not under challenge. Now it has to be examined as to whether the power of
regularization conferred on the Commissioner under the aforesaid provisions is
unguided, unchannelized and thereby the said provision is rendered arbitrary. It is
also to be remembered that the aforesaid scheme particularly under Rule 9 of
G.O.Ms.No.901 is based upon the report of the expert committee constituted by the
State in pursuance of the orders of this Court in WA.No.2130 of 2005 dated
21.02.2006 extracted above. The said high-level expert committee suggested
enhanced penal rates under Schedule ‘U’ and Schedule ‘V’ of HMC Act and
amendments to AP Urban Areas (Development) Act respectively. It also suggested
formulated scheme to penalize unauthorized constructions made up to specified
date up to certain limit. It also suggested rates of penalization and amendments to
the municipal laws and this Court in the above writ appeal vide orders dated
27.07.2006 had examined the expert committee report and observed that the
recommendations would serve deterrent against violators and it is in the light of the
Report I and II of the said expert committed that the Government had come up
with the amendments above to various municipal laws and the scheme as discussed
above. Rule 9, in particular, which keeps the regularization of certain types of
constructions outside the purview of general amnesty scheme, is in conformity with
the recommendations of high level expert committee under Para 5.5. of the I report
dated 17.05.2006.
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88. As we have discussed above, in order to guide the said discretion under
Section 455-AA rules under G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 were enacted and
published. As briefly discussed above, the regularization and penalization under
Section 455-AA and the allied provisions of other municipal laws opens with a non-
obstantic clause to regulate and insulate the said constructions from the municipal
corporations act and allied municipal laws; provided the application falls within the
permissible rules under G.O.Ms.No.901. The apprehensions of the petitioners that
their rights under the Apartments Act, Easements Act or all pending civil litigations
etc. will be affected on account of such regularization and thereby their attempt to
oppose the aforesaid scheme, is not sustainable in view of the fact that
non-obstantic clause under Section 455-AA is intended to insulate the said
offending constructions only against the rigors of municipal laws. Thus, if any
offending construction is regularized or penalized, it would only mean that the
municipal authorities would not proceed against the same on the ground that any
building byelaws, zoning regulations or sanction plan is violated. The said
regularization, therefore, per se, has no affect on the legal rights, if any, of any
other person.
Any civil right of such person is affected by G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 and
thereby G.O.Ms.No.901 is arbitrary on that account is, therefore, not sustainable.
89. The most important provision in saving Section 455-AA from the vice of
unguided discretion is contained in Rule 4 and Rule 9 of the Rules framed under
G.O.Ms.No.901. Rule 4 is as follows:
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“4. Prior clearance from other Authorities/Departments in
certain cases:
(1) In the following cases, prior clearance shall be ensured by the Competent
Authority before considering the application under these Rules:
(d) In respect of cases of residential buildings 18 m and above in
height, Commercial buildings 15 mts. and above in height, and
buildings of public congregation like schools, Cinema theatres,
function halls and other assembly building on plot area of 500 sq.
mts. and above or of height above 6 mts as stipulated in Section
13 of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Act, 1999 from Fire Service
Department.
(e) From Airport Authority of India wherever applicable.
(f) In case of buildings of height above 15 mt, necessary certificate
from licensed structural engineer with regard to structural safety
compliance of such buildings need to be submitted.
(2) Applicants shall submit such application along with the above details
within the stipulated time. However, an additional time period of three months
will be allowed for filing the Clearance as required under Rule 4(1) (a) and
Rule 4(1)(b).”
90. From the above it is clear that all regularizations relating to high-rise
buildings to both residential and commercial nature as well as buildings where
public congregation is visualized, are required to satisfy the norms of Andhra
Pradesh Fire Services Act and clearance from the Fire Services Department is
essential. Similarly, the Airport Authority of India’s clearance is also necessary
where it is applicable. Thus, the prior clearance on fire services authorities in case
of high rise residential or commercial buildings and such prior clearance of Airport
Authority of India wherever applicable, is a pre-condition for considering any
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application for regularization and penalization.
The contention on the part of the petitioners that all requirements under the Fire
Services Act etc. are given a go by is factually incorrect. So far as the argument of
ignoring structural safety while considering such regularization and penalization is
concerned, Rule 4(c) requires a necessary prior clearance certificate from a licenced
structural engineer certifying structural safety compliance of a building, which is of
height of 15 meters above. This necessarily ensures and provides that structural
safety is not ignored even while considering regularization and penalization.
91. It is, however, true that structural safety with respect to buildings below 15
meters is not provided for in the aforesaid rules. There must be several instances,
where building may not be exceeding height of 15 meters and may be constructed
on a very small plot area, where the height to which it is constructed may not be
permissible from the standpoint of structural safety, population density etc.
The requirement of prior clearance on structural safety certificate having been
restricted only with respect to building with a height above 15 meters, in our
opinion, requires to be appropriately read down so as to save the said rules from
the vice of arbitrariness. It cannot be denied that any construction whether illegally
raised or raised in deviation of sanction plan must conform to minimum structural
safety standards. So far as Rule 4(c) is concerned, therefore, in our opinion the
requirement of prior structural safety compliance from a licenced structural
engineer must be insisted upon for all buildings and not necessarily only the
building of the height of above 15 meters. The words ‘of height above 15 mt’ is
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necessary to be severed and struck down and the rest of the Rule 4(c) is valid and
enforceable.
92. So far as Rule 9 is concerned, the said clauses (a) to (m) thereof stipulate
that for a building falling within any of the above, penalization of unauthorized
constructions under the impugned scheme will not be considered. The said sub-
clauses (a) to (m) have undergone a marginal amendment under G.O.Ms.No.112
dated 31.01.2008, which shall be discussed hereafter. However, a look at the
clauses (a) to (m) would be useful. Rule 9 is extracted as under:
9. Penalization not to apply to certain sites:
Penalization of unauthorized constructions shall not be considered in

the following cases and in cases where public interest and public safety are
likely to be adversely affected, viz.
(a) Encroachment on Government land or property belonging to Public

undertakings, Andhra Pradesh Housing Board, Andhra Pradesh Industrial
Infrastructure Corporation, Urban Development Authority, Local Body,
Endowments, Wakf Board etc.
(b) Land for which the applicant has no title;
(c) Surplus land declared under Urban Land Ceiling/Agricultural Land
Ceiling/lands resumed under Andhra Pradesh Assigned Lands (POT) Act;
(d) Buildings affected under alignment of any road or proposed road under
Master Plan/Zonal Development Plan/Road Development Plan or any other
public roads/MRTS/BRTS;
(e) Tank bed and Sikham lands;
(f) Areas prohibited for construction under G.O.Ms.No.111 MA & UD Dept.,
dated 08.03.1996 (protection of Catchment area of Osmansagar and
Himayatsagar lakes);
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(g) Prohibited areas under the Coastal Regulation Zone and such other
environmentally restricted zones as may be prescribed;
(h) Layout/Master Plan open spaces/Areas earmarked for Recreation Use in
Master Plan/Zonal Development Plan;
(i) Buildings that are not in conformity with land use approved in Master
Plan/Zonal development Plan;
(j) Sites under legal litigation/disputes regarding ownership of the
site/building;
(k) Area earmarked for parking as per sanctioned plan;
(l) Unauthorized constructions without any building sanction in
unapproved/unauthorized layouts, for which prior approval of site/plot
under regulation of unapproved/unauthorized layouts rules shall be
obtained;
However in case of Rule 9(i), application for penalization will be accepted
if the applicant encloses the Acknowledgment of the Application made for
regulation of the unauthorized site/plot under the relevant rules to the
competent authority.
(m) Regulation and penalization shall not be done for the constructions made
within the building line of major roads of width 80 feet and above within
the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Greater
Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation
and roads of width 60 feet and above in rest of the urban areas as per
Master Plan/Zonal Development Plan.
93. Under G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008 Rule 3 was amended to provide
payment of penal amount in two installments, which really has not much of a
bearing on the issue. The sub-rule 3 is added to Rule 5 and newly added sub-rules
4, 5 and 6 merely deal with reduction of penalization charges, which also has not
much of relevance.
The sub-rule 7, however, is important, which is extracted hereunder.
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“5(7). In case of constructions made within the building line of major
roads of width 80 feet and above within the limits of Greater Hyderabad
Municipal Corporation, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, and
Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and roads of width 60 feet and above in
rest of the urban areas as per Master Plan/Zonal Development Plan, the
regulation and penalization shall be done subject to the property owner
furnishing a legally enforceable undertaking that he will surrender the land
falling within the building line to local body/UDA free of costs as and when
required in future for road widening or other public purposes.”
The rest of the amendments under G.O.Ms.No.112 including the revised table
for penalization charges are not in much controversy or dispute except in one writ
petition, which will be discussed appropriately.
94. It will be noticed from the above that no application for regularization or
penalization shall be considered, most importantly, with respect to lands belonging
to the State Government or local bodies; where constructions are on the land
belonging to the State Government or local authorities or land; where the title of
the applicant is not established as well as the lands covered by surplus land under
the Urban Land Ceilings, Agricultural Land Ceilings and resumed lands under the AP
Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act etc. Clauses (d) and (e) prohibit any
regularization and penalization of buildings, which are constructed in the affected
alignment of roads proposed under Master Plan/Zonal Development Plan/Road
Development Plan or other public roads or tank bed and sikham lands as well as
under clause (f) constructions prohibited in the areas of Osmansagar and
Himayatsagar lakes including prohibited areas under the Coastal Regulation Zone
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and on environmentally restricted zones. The impermissibility or inapplicability of
the entire scheme of regularization and penalization with respect to constructions
falling within any of the above categories make it clear that the regularization is not
applicable in a wholesale manner to any building whether constructed
unauthorizedly and whatever may be the violations. The discretion of the
Commissioner to regularize and penalize, under the parent provisions, is thus,
circumscribed by the restrictions as mentioned above and the buildings constructed
in any of the above prohibited categories are outside the purview of the scheme of
regularization. The contention, generally on the part of the petitioners, that under
the aforesaid scheme the Government would be free to regularize all or any of the
constructions by condoning all or any of the violations, therefore, clearly overlooks
the above prohibited areas under the scheme itself.
95. So far as clause (h), (i) and (m) of Rule 9 are concerned;
they are necessary to be dealt with separately. Clause (h) prohibits constructions in
layout or master plan open spaces earmarked for recreation use in the master plan
or zonal development plan. The plain reading of the aforesaid provisions would
mean that in other than recreation use zones, the regularization and penalization
would be permissible even if constructions are made in the mandatory open spaces
in the layouts or the master plan in such zones. The very basic purpose of leaving
mandatory open spaces in the layouts and master plan would be completely
defeated if such constructions are also to be allowed in the open spaces earmarked.
It is now well settled that open spaces required under the Layout Rules or Master
Plan are aimed to provide necessary lung space for the residents and whatever may
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be the compulsion, the open spaces are required to be meant as such and cannot
be utilized for any other purpose. We are, therefore, unable to appreciate the
clause (h) and the purpose behind the same.
Further, clause (h) permits regularization of constructions made in such mandatory
open spaces in zones other than recreation use zone, which is not based on any
reasonable criteria. The requirement of open spaces in any layout or master plan
irrespective of the purpose for which the zone is reserved is required to be kept as
such and is not allowed to be frittered away by permitting constructions and later
on permitting such constructions to be legalized by the scheme of regularization or
penalization. The clause (h), therefore, to our mind, negates the very purpose on
mandatory open spaces and when the law does not approve of any such violations
of mandatory open spaces there is no question of legalizing the constructions made
therein. In fact, the open spaces in the layouts or the master plan vest in the local
authority and would automatically assume the category of the land or property
belonging to the Government or local authority and would fall under clause (a) of
Rule 9. When the scheme under G.O.Ms.No.901 itself mandates under clause (a)
that any constructions made in the land belonging to the Government or local
authority shall not be considered for regularization and penalization, the same
would squarely apply to all such mandatory open spaces in the layout or master
plan in all zones under the master plan and zonal development plans and in that
view of the matter, the words ‘for recreation use’ in clause (h) of Rule 9 is clearly
arbitrary and is required to be struck down and severed while retaining rest of
clause (h) as valid.
Page
92
96. So far as Clause (i) is concerned, it was originally envisaged that buildings,
which are not in conformity with the approved land use shall not be considered for
penalization or regularization and no exception could have been taken to the same.
In fact, retention of such clause (i) in G.O.Ms.No.901 would also save the aforesaid
rules from the vice of arbitrariness but surprisingly under G.O.Ms.No.112
clause (i) of Rule 9 is deleted. The State is not able to substantiate any reasoning in
support of deletion of clause (i) of Rule 9 when originally clause (i) had sought to
restrict the penalization and amending the same within the four corners of use in a
particular zone. Under the AP Urban Areas (Development) Act the use of land or
premises, which is not in conformity with the approved land use, is required to be
discontinued and it is envisaged that all uses of land or building within a particular
zone shall be in conformity with the approved land use. The successful
implementation of the master plans, which are always prepared after an elaborate
technical study and after ensuring the division of city into separate zones for that
purpose by making plans, would be nullified, if non-conformity uses are legalized
under the present scheme of regularization and penalization. Further, the said
deletion of clause (i) would amount to modification of master plan/zonal
development plan to the extent of allowing the said building to be used for a non-
conformity purpose. Under the AP Urban Areas (Development) Act, specific
provision under Section 13 is enacted together with the Rules to enable any person
to seek modification of the master plan. The said elaborate procedure is provided
under the AP Urban Areas (Development) Act only to ensure that as far as possible
the approved land use must be maintained in every zone. By deletion of the said
clause (i), therefore, the State has licenced non-conformity use of land in any zone.
Page
93
Hypothetically it allows a purely commercial building to be legalized into a purely
residential zone and a purely residential building into a purely industrial zone etc.
97. Learned Advocate General is also not able to substantiate any reasoning on
the part of the State Government in deleting the said clause (i) from
G.O.Ms.No.901 vide amendments made under further G.O.Ms.No.112 dated
31.01.2008. In some of the writ petitions in this batch, G.O.Ms.No.112 is also
questioned. We are of the view that such challenge deserves to succeed to the
extent of clause (i) and to that extent G.O.Ms.No.112 is liable to be declared
arbitrary and unsustainable and thereby clause (i) under Rule 9 of G.O.Ms.No.901 is
retained and is made expressly applicable to all such building applications for
regularization or penalization and no such application shall be considered if it
violates clause (i).
98. Under clause (j) of Rule 9, sites in legal litigation/disputes regarding
ownership of a site or building are not covered by the aforesaid scheme. The
apprehensions of some of the learned counsel for the petitioners that their pending
civil litigations would be affected on account of regularization or penalization is,
therefore, not sustainable in view of clear mandate of clause (j) above. Further,
under clause (k) no such regularization is permissible with regard to areas
earmarked for parking as per sanctioned plan. The contention of the learned
counsel for the petitioners that the constructions made in the parking spaces would
get legalized is also not sustainable and such contention is advanced in ignorance of
the safety valve of clause (k) under Rule 9. Similarly, under clause (l) the
Page
94
unauthorized construction in land not covered by layout or unauthorized layouts
also require prior clearance of such layout, which by itself safeguards and ensures
that at least, layout sanction is granted and only thereafter the building application
is taken up for consideration for regularization or penalization. The State has
framed separate rules regarding regularization of unauthorized layouts under
G.O.Ms.No.902 dated 31.12.2007, but however, the same is not the subject matter
of this batch of cases.
99. Further, under clause (m) it was originally provided that on all major roads of
width of 80 feet and above within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation,
Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation
and roads of width 60 feet and above in other municipal and urban areas, no
constructions affecting the building line would be permissible for regularization.
Under G.O.Ms.No.112 the aforesaid clause (m) is also deleted and based on that
some of the learned counsel contended that once the building line on such major
roads is ignored and regularization is allowed, it will be impossible in the future to
take up any development on all such roads. As mentioned above, the aforesaid
clause (m) was deleted vide G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008. However, in the
place of clause (m) Rule 5(7) was inserted, which is extracted above. Under the
said sub-rule (7) of Rule 5 though the buildings constructed within the building line
on such major roads can be considered for regularization or penalization but is
subject to an undertaking given by the owner/builder that in the event of any part,
thereafter, is being affected in future road widening or other public purpose, he
would surrender the affected portion without claiming any compensation. In other
Page
95
words, therefore, while buildings made within the building line of such major roads,
even if regularized and penalized, that would not make such construction immune
from requirement for public purpose including road widening in the future. On the
contrary, in such eventuality, the Government would be entitled to the affected
portion without the necessity of paying any compensation to the owner/builder, in
view of the undertaking, from such person, secured by the Government at the time
of regularization itself. To our mind, therefore, the aforesaid provision sufficiently
safeguards the public interest and it is not, as if, that once construction is
regularized within the building line on major roads, no development of the said road
could take place at any future time. The said construction even if regularized and
penalized would not make it immune from requirement of any part thereof for any
public purpose including road widening in future. Deletion of clause (m) under
G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008 is, therefore, sufficiently safeguarded by insertion
of Rule 5(7) and thereby the contention to the contrary raised by the learned
counsel for the petitioners is not sustainable.
100. We shall now deal with three other contentions of the learned counsel for the
petitioners viz. the questions raised on behalf of two petitioners, who are before
this Court in the capacity of pre-bono publico viz. WP.No.6562 of 2008 (a registered
political party) and WP.No.8578 of 2008 (a society functioning for the betterment of
Hyderabad). The basic contention advanced on behalf of the learned counsel for the
petitioner in WP.No.6562 of 2008 is only with respect to the penal charges imposed
on the bona fidepurchasers and not on the owner or the builder. The detailed
submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioners are already extracted above
Page
96
and the said argument is based upon the reading of Section 455-AA and the object
of the Act to penalize the builder/owner. It is to be appreciated that when a builder
or owner makes constructions, it is for the purchaser to make all reasonable
enquiries, especially as the rights of the buyer and seller are set out in detail under
Section 55 of the Transfer of Property Act. The theory of ‘buyer beware’ emerges
from the said principles that diligent and reasonable enquiries must be made by the
purchaser so that any patent defects could be discovered and if possible remedied
before the buyer purchases the property. The most basic requirement before
purchasing an immovable property being to make inspection and discovery of title
and link document of the seller would necessarily include examination of sanction
plan under which the construction is taken up. Even a layman’s examination of a
sanction plan would reveal to him as to whether the constructions are in conformity
thereof or not. It has been contended by some of the petitioners and the party-in-
person that the builders invariably do not show the sanction plan and thereby the
innocent purchaser is made to purchase an apartment or a building without
knowing as to whether the constructions are permissible or not and legal or not.
The basic fallacy in the said argument is apparent from the fact that if a buyer
purchases an apartment without taking due and reasonable care it is not open for
him to further contend that he is a bona fidepurchaser and as such needs to be
protected. It is not possible to adjudicate in these proceedings as to whether the
purchaser is all innocent and bona fidepurchaser and it has to be presumed that the
theory of ‘buyer beware’ is applicable to all such purchases.
Page
97
101. All that apart, the State is not concerned as to who pays for penalization as
long as application for penalization is received accompanied by the requisite fee.
Whether the penalization charges are to be borne by the builder or the owner or the
subsequent purchaser is a matter entirely among themselves and the State is no
way concerned as to who pays. It is also to be remembered that the ultimate
benefit of penalization or regularization goes to the subsequent purchaser, who is in
possession of such unauthorized construction on the basis of his purchase. It would,
therefore, be wholly untenable to accept the contention that while the benefit of
regularization and penalization would be retained by the purchaser but he should
not be made to pay for such regularization and penalization. The State, which has
come up with the scheme, has offered to the general public to avail the scheme. If
a subsequent purchaser does not desire of availing the scheme and if he insists that
only the builder or the owner must pay, the consequences of not applying within the
prescribed time would also be that of the subsequent purchaser.
The contention of the petitioners, therefore, that in no case they should be made
liable to pay and the object of deterrence against owner or builder would be lost if
subsequent purchaser is made to pay, is unsustainable. The deterrent against
unauthorized constructions and the heavy penalties envisaged would by itself deter
any unauthorized constructions in the future as the legislations and the rules
framed thereunder themselves provide penalties against unauthorized
constructions.
102. Now the other challenge by the petitioners in WP.No.8578 of 2008 based
upon the 73rd amendment to the Constitution is also not sustainable on a deeper
Page
98
examination. It is to be remembered that under the impugned provisions, the local
bodies are not dealing with any urban planning as such and the impugned
provisions are primarily meant to safeguard the urban planning as far as possible
and at the same time balancing the unauthorized constructions to save majority of
the buildings within the city from the only option of demolition.
It is, no doubt, true that some violations may affect the National Building Code as
well as the ideal and model building byelaws necessary for maintaining ecology and
growth of the environment in an organized manner but such problems are faced in
all the metropolitan cities within the country. The Chennai Municipal Corporation as
well as the New Delhi Municipal Corporation have already shown method and
manner in which the problems are attempted to be tackled and reasonable rate of
success achieved therefrom. Fortunately, in the present case, the master plan itself
is not changed as was done in New Delhi Municipal Corporation and further,
fortunately, in the present case, the restrictions under Rule 9 of G.O.Ms.No.901 as
discussed in detail above, have saved the said basic provision of regularization and
penalization viz. Section 455-AA from the vice of arbitrariness and unguided
exercise of discretion.
We, therefore, think that the functional autonomy of local
self-government is not taken away just because the scheme of regularization is
proposed which will benefit public at large and each local self-government. So far as
structural safety and stability is concerned, We have already dealt with the said
aspect in some detail and with the modifications as suggested in this judgment, We
are of the view that neither fire safety requirements nor the structural safety
requirements on any constructions is allowed to be given a go by.

Page
99
103. Learned counsel relied upon Kurian’s case (7 supra), which is already
discussed above that the said case dealt with the case of exercise of power of
exemption without recommendation and is clearly not applicable. Similarly, the
proposition of Friends Colony’s case
(4 supra) and Consumer Action Group’s case (9 supra) relied upon by the
learned counsel is already dealt with and discussed as above.
104. So far as the submissions on the part of the party-in-person are concerned,
most of the said submissions are considered under various heads as above. It is,
however, to be noted that regularization and penalization scheme is no premium on
dishonest and unauthorized construction activity witnessed in the city and other
urban areas but is only a scheme to ameliorate the acute shortage of housing felt
by general public and to offset the national waste, which could be the result of
wholesale and massive demolitions required to be made by all the municipal
authorities all over the State leading to other related problems of rehabilitation of
thousands of families residing in the said objectionable buildings. The one time
measure envisaged under the impugned provisions and the rules, as discussed
above, is by itself stringent and not a wholesale licence in favour of the
unauthorized constructions and in the larger public interest several pre-conditions
are required to be met and exclusion clauses apart, as discussed in detail above.
The party-in-person, who is said to represent innocent buyers of the said
unauthorized constructions, as held above cannot be said to be so innocent a buyer
as is projected. But, however, as a policy, the State Government, felt it necessary
Page
100
to act in aid of large number of such occupants of unauthorized constructions, the
scheme was envisaged with the modifications proposed herein, therefore, according
to us, is valid and challenge to the impugned provisions and the rules except to the
extent indicated herein deserves to be answered in negative.
105. In this context one more aspect relating to Section 461(3) needs a mention.
The said section enacted by AP Act 6 of 2008 is not subject matter of any challenge
but the said aspect in the context becomes relevant and we shall place our views on
the subject.
The said provision envisages that, whoever, either himself or through any other
person undertakes or carries out any construction in contravention of master plan
or permission shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extent to
three years or with fine which may extend to 10% of the value of the land. The
purpose of the aforesaid provision is to enable the local authority to prosecute such
violators and provide a stringent punishment of imprisonment of a term, which may
extend to three years. However, the escape route provide for imposition of fine in
lieu of punishment of imprisonment, which may completely dilute the stringent
deterrent envisaged in the basis provision. The payment of 10% of the value of the
land is no deterrent against unauthorized constructions inasmuch as the person,
who takes up construction, would reap benefit of much more value than the said
10%. The said escape route, which dilutes the deterrent effect of the said provision,
needs a serous re-look by the State Legislative. Even if the State Legislature
intends to provide a penalty of mandatory fine in lieu of imprisonment for such
offence, such mandatory fine should be commensurate and deterrent enough to
Page
101
ensure that violators do not get away by paying a pittance of fine and thereby
frustrate the provision of prosecution for a municipal offence envisaged therein.
CONCLUSIONS:
106. In view of our conclusions on point No.1 and point No.2 above, the provisions
under the impugned amendment Act cannot be said to be unconstitutional or
invalid. G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007, which was issued under the said
impugned provisions, also cannot be said to be arbitrary except to the extent of
part of clause (h) of Rule 9, which we have struck down in Para 95 above and
deletion of clause (i) of Rule 9 vide G.O.Ms.No.112 dated 31.01.2008 has also been
declared arbitrary and unsustainable vide our conclusions in Para 97 above.
We have considered various sub-clauses (a) to (m) of Rule 9 and in particular part
of Rule 4(c) as struck down. We have also held in this judgment that except to the
extent indicated herein the rest of the Rules are sustainable and are neither
arbitrary nor unconstitutional. Thus, the principle of severability, to our mind, is
necessary to be applied to severe the partial invalidity of part of the provisions of
Rules framed under G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 to save the said GO from
contravention of Constitutional limitations.
107. By the aforesaid principles, Rule 4(c) under G.O.Ms.No.902 requiring
satisfaction of structural safety only with respect to buildings of height of above 15
meters, however, does not stand to reason.
Page
102
If the said Rule 4(c) is read down accordingly, the said requirement shall be
applicable to all buildings irrespective of height.
108. In conclusion, therefore, the provisions of Sections 452-A,
455-A and 455-AA are declared valid and within the competence of the State
Government. The rules under G.O.Ms.No.901 Municipal Administration and Urban
Development (M1) dated 31.12.2007 and G.O.Ms.No.112 Municipal Administration
and Urban Development (M1) dated 31.01.2008 are also declared valid except to
the extent of declaring Rule 4 (c) as applicable to all buildings irrespective of height
and part of Rule 9 (h) is struck down to include all open spaces earmarked for any
use in the master plan or zonal development plan; further amendment IV of
G.O.Ms.No.112 to the extent of deleting Rule 9(i) of the Rules under G.O.Ms.No.901
is declared arbitrary and invalid and consequently, Rule 9(i) shall remain in
operation as part of the scheme under G.O.Ms.No.901.
109. Before we part with this case, one other aspect is required to be dealt with.
During the hearing, we received suggestions including one from the learned
Advocate General that there should be effective monitoring of the entire gamut of
regularization and penalization and it was urged that this Court would take up the
said monitoring so as to ensure that the malady sought to be remedied does not
recur at any time in future. We have given our earnest consideration to the said
aspect. We also felt that keeping in view the pressure of work and demand on the
time of this Court, the periodical monitoring of work under the impugned scheme
by this Court may not be feasible and as such, we have evolved an alternative
Page
103
mechanism, which we think should serve the purpose of monitoring the work under
the impugned scheme. It is evident from the Rules 1 to 10 of the Rules framed
under G.O.Ms.No.901 that it is only the applicant, who is involved in the entire
process up to the issuance of occupancy certificate after completion of entire
process of regularization and penalization.
One of the grievances of some of the learned counsel for the petitioners was that
there is no mechanism where an objector to the said scheme could ventilate his
objections. Any objector including a neighbour of an offending construction,
undoubtedly, has locus and would be entitled to object to the construction including
objection from the point of view of ineligibility of a particular construction from the
provisions of the scheme itself. The provisions of G.O.Ms.No.901 do not any way
provide for such objector being heard either before or after such orders for
regularization are issued in favour of the application. Under Rule 11 if an applicant
is aggrieved by an order passed by the competent authority an appeal is provided
to a committee, which would be constituted by the Government under Rule 14. No
such appeal is, however, available to an objector. The said issue can be looked at
from two different alternatives: (i) a mechanism can be provided in the rule itself
where a right of appeal is conferred not only on an applicant aggrieved but also on
any person, who is desirous of registering objections against the proposed action of
the competent authority and till the said appeal is heard and decided the orders of
the competent authority passed ultimately under Rule 10 would be declared
provisional and subject to its confirmation by the appellate authority and (ii) to
leave it open for the objector to question the decision of the competent authority or
the appellate authority, as the case may be, by approaching the common law
Page
104
Courts and to ventilate his grievance accordingly.
110. In the scheme of things as it stands under the Rules no such locus or hearing
is provided to an objector and thereby he has no other remedy except to approach
common law Courts for appropriate relief. We have already held above that all such
regularizations and penalizations would not affect the easementary or civil rights of
any neighbour and as such, he would be free to ventilate his grievance before the
competent civil Court, if he so desires. We are also of the further view that the
Government may consider amendment of Rules 11 and 14 so as to provide right of
appeal to an objector or a third party and till such decision of the appellate
authority the orders of regularization or penalization including occupancy certificate
issued under Rule 10 would remain provisional and subject to confirmation of such
appellate authority. Under Rule 14 the State is required to constitute an appellate
committee for examining appeals under Rule 11. We feel that the work of
monitoring as well as serving as an appellate authority can well be entrusted to the
high level expert committee, which has submitted report I and II to the
Government on the very same subject. The said high level expert committee
comprised of (i) Former Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration –
Chairman, (ii) Director, Town & Country Planning – Member, (iii) Professor,
Architecture & Urban Planning, School of Planning & Architecture, JNTU, Hyderabad
– Member, (iv) Director (Planning), HUDA, Hyderabad – Member, (v) Additional
Director of Municipal Administration Officer, C&DMA – Member, (vi) Officer on
Special Duty, Municipal Administration & Urban Development – Member and (vii)
Chief City Planner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation – Member Convenor.
Page
105
We are of view that the said committee should be further constituted to serve as a
Monitoring Committee to ensure compliance of the provisions and rules relating to
penalization and regularization and the said committee would be required to submit
report on the work done at every interval of six months to the Secretary to the
Government, Municipal Administration & Urban Development and on the basis of
the report of the monitoring committee appropriate remedial action shall be taken
by the Government within a reasonable time.
111. We are also of the view that the said monitoring committee may also serve
as an appellate authority as envisaged under Rule 14 for reviewing the decisions of
the competent authority, in the aforesaid capacity would also do monitoring work
envisaged herein. We hope and trust that the State Government shall take
appropriate prompt action in this respect, which would substantially provide a
forum to the objectors to ventilate their grievances against the orders of the
competent authority and would sufficiently safeguard the object, purpose and the
scheme of regularization and penalization envisaged by the Government.
Subject to the above, all the writ petitions are disposed of accordingly.
However, WP.No.4409 of 2006 and WP.Nos.7542, 542, 17859, 16623, 23494 and
16025 of 2008 are deleted from this batch to be heard separately by an appropriate
bench. There shall be no order as to costs.
______________
V. ESWARAIAH, J
Page
106
_____________________
VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR, J
June 8, 2009
DSK
Page
107

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH

EIGHTH DAY OF JUNE

K.H.V. Prasad, S/o. K. Gopala Rao, R/o. M-11, Kakatiya Nagar,

Lok Satta Party, H. No. 5-10-180/A&A1, Bond Lanes, Adarsh

1 Government of Andhra Pradesh rep by its Principal Secretary,

1 Dr. A.S. Gajendra Mudaliar S/o.A.S. Srinivasa Mudaliar,

1 Government of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by Chief Secretary,

K.Madhu Sudhan Rao, S/o.Late Sri Koripalli(V) Veeraju

1 Government of A.P, Rep.by its Principal Secreary M.C.H and Urban

M/s. Rajyalakshmi Modern Rice Mill Contractors Company,

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Rep. by S.K.Suri, Chief

1 The Govt. of A.P., Rep. by its Secretary, Municipal Administration

M.V. Sudhakar, S/o. Ramanuja Das, R/o. D.No. 10-3-11, Kailash,

1 Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., rep. by its Vice Chairman

Sri Balaji Towers Association, Regd.No.880/2006, Plot No.32,

Bhaskar Nagar Colony Development, Welfare Association,

1 State of AP., rep by Secretary (Municipal Administration),

Visakhapatnam Apartment Residents Welfare Association

1 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep by its Principal Secretary,

1 Vaddiraju Deepak Kumar, S/o. Radhakishan Rao,

Y. Sambasiva Rao, S/o. Y. Venkat Ramaiah, R/o. Flat No. 305,

1 Hyderabad Urban Development Authority, Rep by its Vice

1 Forum for Better Hyderabad, rep. by its Secretary, Mr. Omim

1 State of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Municipal

Anuradha Apartments Owner's Association Jandachettu Street

1 Government of A.P Rep. by its principal Secretary Municipal

1 Javaji Koti Nagaiah S/o.Venkata Narsaiah, R/o.H.No.3-14-74,

1 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Secretary

Snehabhavana House Owners Welfare Society Gopaluram Village &

1 The State of Andhra Pradesh Rep. by its Principal Secretary

J.R.Nagar Residents Welfare Association, Rep.by its President

1 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal

The Court made the following common order:

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR

WP.No.1069 OF 2008 & BATCH

COMMON ORDER: (per Hon’ble Sri Justice Vilas V. Afzulpurkar)

validity of AP Act 9 of 2008, which amended the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation

Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Act, Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Act,

Areas (Development) Act, 1975 and G.O.Ms.No.901 dated 31.12.2007 issued

defined and Sections 41 and 43 were amended by inserting sub-sections. Further,

Section 46 was substituted by conferring power of regularization on the Vice-

force on 15.12.2007 having received assent of the Governor on 16.04.2008 and

Andhra Pradesh Urban (Development) Act, the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.901

Municipal Administration and Urban Development (M1) Department dated

31.12.2007 titled “The Andhra Pradesh Regulation and Penalization of

Unauthorizedly Constructed Buildings and Buildings Constructed in Deviation of the

Sanctioned Plan Rules, 2007”. The aforesaid GO is applicable to the existing

buildings in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporations, the Urban Development

date of said publication.

3. In this batch of cases the aforesaid provisions of AP Act 9 of 2008 as well as

penalization in the aforesaid GO is questioned.

we have separately dealt with each writ petition,

the area of challenge broadly as appearing in the batch of cases is indicated as

broadly referred to as preamble.

Government prior to taking up these impugned amendments, has found that

enumerated by the said committee are as follows:

1. Eagerness of applicant for maximum utilization of site to get maximum

7. These and such other reasons resulted in massive unauthorized constructions

ultimately resulted in the Government coming up with a scheme for regularization

of these unauthorized constructions under G.O.Ms.No.419 dated 30.07.1998. The