The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has called upon Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to immediately appoint members to the long-dormant Town Planning and Building Tribunal.

  • FGG has urged the Telangana government to operationalize the Building Tribunal.
  • The tribunal was constituted in 2016 but remains non-functional due to lack of appointments.
  • Builders are using court stay orders to bypass fire safety and building norms.
  • The Telangana High Court had previously ordered the state to fill these vacancies.

HYDERABAD: The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has formally requested the Telangana Government to immediately establish a functional Town Planning and Building Tribunal. This move is aimed at addressing the rampant unauthorized constructions and various building-related violations currently plaguing municipalities across the state.

In a formal representation submitted to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday, FGG President M. Padmanabha Reddy highlighted that unauthorized constructions are severely undermining planned urban development and creating significant safety hazards for the public. He noted a recurring pattern where municipal authorities issue demolition notices, only for builders to obtain stay orders from courts, allowing them to continue construction in blatant violation of fire safety and building norms.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the absence of a specialized, functional tribunal creates a legal vacuum. This vacuum allows developers to exploit judicial delays, effectively turning illegal construction into a lucrative, low-risk enterprise that compromises urban stability.

The lack of a functional tribunal provides a shield for violators, enabling them to bypass safety regulations through prolonged litigation.

Mr. Reddy emphasized that while a tribunal was established in 2016 to ensure the speedy disposal of building-related cases, it has remained a mere paper entity. No chairpersons or members have been appointed to date, leaving the enforcement mechanism toothless.

Historical Background

The issue has a significant legal history. The FGG previously approached the Telangana High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). On April 27, 2022, the High Court issued a directive to the State Government to complete the appointment process within four weeks. However, despite this judicial mandate, the matter has remained unresolved for nearly a decade.

Did You Know?: Unauthorized buildings often lack proper structural integrity, making them significantly more vulnerable during natural disasters like earthquakes or floods.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the Building Tribunal important?
It is designed to provide quick legal resolutions for building violations and ensure strict adherence to town planning laws.

2. What has the High Court said about this?
The High Court directed the state to constitute the tribunal within four weeks in 2022, a directive that remains unfulfilled.