GORATI SUNITHA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioners assert that they are owners and possessors of agricultural lands in various survey numbers of Kadthal Village and Mandal, Ranga Reddy District, where they have been cultivating crops for more than two decades. They state that their lands contain cattle sheds, pump rooms, workers' rooms, storage rooms for cultivation equipment, iron fencing and paddy farming. They contend that Respondent No.7, without issuing any prior notice, entered their private patta lands, marked the ground with circles and numbers with colour paint and proposed to erect 765 kV transmission towers. They describe this as a highhanded act amounting to trespass and a punishable offence. They claim that when they approached Respondent No.7 and orally objected to the works, the officials refused to acknowledge even a letter issued by the local MLA, dtd. 8/1/2024, requesting realignment of the transmission line.

(2.) Respondent No.7 filed a detailed counter-affidavit denying each allegation made by Petitioners. It is asserted that it is a Deemed Transmission Licensee under Sec. 14 of the Electricity Act, 2003 and is legally empowered to undertake survey marking, route finalization and execution activities associated with 765 KV Bidar PS-Maheshwaram Transmission Line. It states that marking of circles and numeric numbers on Petitioners' lands was done strictly in accordance with statutory procedure and only after publication in local newspapers on 25/5/2024. Notices were also issued individually but several Petitioners refused to accept them. It denies trespass stating that all the activities were conducted lawfully.

(3.) Heard Ms. N. Swathi, learned counsel for petitioners, learned Deputy Solicitor General on behalf of Respondents 1 to 3, learned Government Pleader for Revenue for Respondents 4 to 6 and Sri Mayur Mundra, learned counsel for the 7th respondent.