Telangana HC extends Dharani stay as cabinet panel examines portal

HYDERABAD: With the state government undertaking a review of Dharani land portal through a cabinet subcommittee, Telangana high court on Friday made it clear that its earlier stay order imposed on the exercise would continue till further orders.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy said this while resuming hearing in a batch of PILs that challenged the Dharani effort charging it with robbing the privacy of people.The government made it mandatory for all the owners of the properties — both agricultural and nonagricultural — to enlist the details of their titles on Dharani portal.
Following widespread criticism and petitions, the High Court earlier directed the government not to collect Aadhaar, caste, family member particulars, while registering non-agricultural properties. As far as agricultural properties are concerned, since farmers are sharing particulars of their bank accounts for availing Rythu Bandhu, the court allowed the government to collect some details but continued restrictions on collecting personal data pertaining to caste, family members.
Advocate general BS Prasad informed the court that the government is now conducting the registration and other activities through the old system. A cabinet sub-committee was formed to study the objections and to make the portal more acceptable to all, he said.
Responding to apprehensions by counsel Vasudha Nagaraj, AG said protection available to tribals in scheduled areas that prevent non-tribals from acquiring property rights will be made available in new Dharani regime. The judges said it would hear this tribals issue separately.
They closed scores of PILs that have similar prayers and made it clear that it will hear two PILs that challenged the government’s effort. The judges also said they would take up the issue later after the government completes its review through the cabinet sub-committee.