Government examining land allotment to film personalities

The State government was seriously examining the issue of allotment of prime land at Jubilee Hills to three film personalities for establishment of recording and re-recording theatre. Replying to a question raised by Congress MLA P Vishnuvardhan Reddy during Question Hour in Assembly, State Information Minister DK Aruna said the government, in June 1984, had allocated half acre of land each to film Director K Raghavendra Rao, Music Director Chakravarthy and K Krishna Mohan of Prakash Productions for construction of recording and re-recording theatres, editing and outdoor units at the rate of Rs 8,500 per acre, from out of two-and-a-half-acres of land opposite to Prasad Film Laboratories in Banjara Hills.

As the allottees failed to comply with the agreements and resorted to other activities in the land, government issued an order to resume the lands on April 22, 2006. The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad was directed to stop the construction activity in the plots allotted to Raghavendra Rao and Krishna Mohan Rao and the Hyderabad Collector was asked to resume the lands allotted to the individuals.

Aggrieved by the government orders, the individuals filed writ petitions before the High Court and subsequently, the High Court in its common order dated July 20, 2007, observed that the orders issued by the government were in violation of natural justice in as much as they have been issued without a show cause notice and directed the respondents to take necessary steps in accordance with law.

Accordingly, the government issued show cause notice to the concerned individuals and they submitted explanations to the government. Government will issue further orders after verifying the explanations, the Minister said.