HC seeks AP govt reply on Tirupati land encroachment

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh high court on Thursday issued notices to the state govt in the petition filed, contending the inaction of revenue officials in removing the encroachments on govt land at Devarakonda in Tirupati district. The petitioner alleged that nearly 16 acres of govt land was encroached on by the family members of a superintendent of police (SP) rank officer. One Gudeti Balakoti Reddy from Bapatla moved the high court, alleging that Tirupati district revenue officials were not taking any action to remove the encroachments on govt lands situated at Devarakonda village. He alleged that Bapatla SP Uma Maheswar's mother, Nagamma, did not come under the landless poor category. However, she managed to get 1.6 acres of land by managing revenue officials and occupied about 16 acres of land in various survey numbers, categorised as forest, road and waterbody.The counsel for Nagamma denied the allegations, stating that the petition was filed with mala fide intentions. He said that Bapatla SP opened a rowdy sheet against the petitioner, who was accused in several cases. Bearing that grudge against the SP, he filed the petition with false allegations, he said.Considering the arguments on both sides, Justice B Krishna Mohan directed all respondents to file counter affidavits and posted the matter for further hearing on March 30.