Hyderabad, October 12, 2025 – In a significant victory for protected tenants, the Telangana High Court has upheld their ownership rights over nearly 200 acres of prime agricultural land in Gachibowli, a key IT corridor in Hyderabad valued at around ₹15,000 crore. The court's 156-page judgment, delivered by Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy, brings closure to a decade-long legal battle between the descendants of original tenants and subsequent land purchasers.
The dispute originated from claims under the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1950, which grants protected tenants ownership rights unless tenancy is lawfully surrendered. In 2013, the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) recognized the petitioners—legal heirs of the original tenants—as valid protected tenants across several survey numbers in Gachibowli village, issuing them ownership certificates after finding no evidence of surrender under Section 19 of the Act. However, in 2016, the sub-collector (joint collector) overturned this decision, arguing that the tenancy law no longer applied following the land's rezoning for residential use.
Challenging the 2016 order, the petitioners approached the High Court, contending that the sub-collector had exceeded jurisdiction by interfering with the RDO's factual findings and prior judicial directives. Justice Reddy sided with them, ruling that the RDO remains the competent authority for determining tenancy rights under the 1950 Act. The court set aside the sub-collector's order, emphasizing that disputes over registered sale deeds between private parties—such as those involving members of the Diamond Hills Welfare Association—must be resolved exclusively by civil courts, not revenue officials.
In a pointed critique, the judge highlighted procedural irregularities in the sub-collector's handling of the case, noting that the detailed reversal order was issued "within 24 hours" while the official was on sanctioned leave, casting "serious doubts on the fairness and legality of the decision-making process." The ruling directs that the matter be treated as concluded, effectively restoring the tenants' rights and barring further revenue interference.
The verdict could have far-reaching implications for Gachibowli's real estate and IT development landscape, where rapid urbanization has transformed farmland into high-value commercial zones housing tech giants. Legal experts suggest it reinforces tenant protections amid rising land encroachments, potentially stalling ongoing projects on the disputed tract until civil suits clarify private title claims. As of now, no immediate reactions from the state government or affected parties have been reported, though the decision is expected to spark discussions on balancing agrarian reforms with urban expansion in Telangana's booming capital region.
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