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SCB razes illegal structures
The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) authorities on Thursday razed to the ground ‘illegal commercial structures’ developed in the premises of Bungalow No 215 (Old Grant, B.3 Category) in survey no 215, GLR No 660 spread over 2.71 acres at Mudfort, Gunrock Enclave.
Hyderabad: The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) authorities on Thursday razed to the ground ‘illegal commercial structures’ developed in the premises of Bungalow No 215 (Old Grant, B.3 Category) in survey no 215, GLR No 660 spread over 2.71 acres at Mudfort, Gunrock Enclave.
The complex housing ‘Modi Ford Car Care Service Centre and Workshop’ and also ‘Mobil1 Car Care Services’, were subleased by Syed Hammeruddin Khan, Holder of Occupancy Rights (HOR). The Cantonment authorities served notices under section 185 and 256 of Cantonment Act 2006, in 2007 on him. But the HOR had contested this in the lower court and subsequently the High Court, which had issued a ‘stay order’ for a long time. This was vacated on Wednesday, in favor of Cantonment Board.
In compliance with the judicial orders, the Cantonment authorities took up the demolition drive on Thursday. A tense situation prevailed at the location, but the timely intervention of Karkhana police resulted in an uninterrupted demolition-spree till evening.
Syed Naseerudddin Khan, one of the sublease holders, claimed that the Cantonment authorities had never served a notice on them.
“How can the Cantonment demolish our structures, when we are paying taxes every year? When we applied for trade license to the SCB, they never complained about this. We are going to approach the Court to seek justice and fight for reimbursement for the loss caused to us,” he bemoaned.
Nihar Kiran, Director of Modi Ford India said that they had entered into a lease agreement with Syed Hammeruddin Khan, the HOR for a period of 18 years, which commenced in 2005. “We had been paying a monthly rent of Rs 1, 80,000 and there was no problem for the past 11 years.
Now the Cantonment authorities suddenly came and started demolishing our shed, show-room and other structures, without giving us reasonable time to remove our belongings, workshop materials and accessories. We were not served any notice and there was no response from SCB when we applied for a trade license.
The estimated loss is Rs 2 crore and the livelihood of more than 60 employees has been jeopardised. We are consulting legal experts to file a case against the SCB authorities for recovery of the lost property and claim damages for tarnishing the image and goodwill of our famous car company,” he lamented.
The demolition drive was carried out in the presence of CEO of SCB, Sujatha Gupta, who said that the SCB was serious about protecting ‘old grant bungalows’, which are meant for residential purposes and not for commercial activity. “We have listed more than 40 structures under old bungalow category in Secunderabad Cantonment limits, for which notices were served in 2007. They would be demolished in a phased manner by overcoming legal hurdles,” she said.
