Telangana High Court Issues Key Rulings on Land Acquisition and Corporate Compliance
The Telangana High Court has issued directives regarding land acquisition rehabilitation, requested SEBI to investigate insider trading allegations at Tech Mahindra, and sought clarification from the AICTE over administrative portal access issues affecting a major engineering college.
Highlights
- •High Court rules that rehabilitation is governed by the 2013 Land Acquisition Act rather than the National Highways Act.
- •RDO directed to resolve rehabilitation compensation for a Nagarkurnool resident within eight weeks.
- •SEBI instructed to address insider trading and financial irregularity allegations filed against Tech Mahindra.
- •Court seeks clarification from AICTE regarding withheld access to approval portals for the Sultan-Ul-Loom Education Society.
The Telangana High Court has issued significant legal directives concerning land acquisition for public infrastructure projects, specifically addressing compensation and rehabilitation frameworks. In a case involving the construction of a National Highway in Nagarkurnool district, a two-judge panel comprised of Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya and Justice Gadi Praveen Kumar clarified the distinction between two primary legal statutes governing property acquisition.
The court observed that while the National Highways Act governs the specific compensation component for property acquired for highway development, the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 holds primacy regarding rehabilitation and resettlement benefits. This ruling followed a writ appeal filed by Nune Vishnu, whose residence was demolished during project implementation. The court ordered the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to make a definitive decision regarding the appellant’s rehabilitation compensation within eight weeks. Additionally, the authorities were instructed to consider his application for temporary shelter during the interim period.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Academic Approvals
In other legal developments, the Telangana High Court is also monitoring corporate and educational compliance issues. Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy has directed the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to provide instructions regarding potential action against Tech Mahindra. This stems from a plea filed by C.V.N. Varma, a former Vice President of the company, who alleges insider trading and financial irregularities within the organization. The petitioner, who claims to have acted as a whistleblower, contends that his employment was terminated in retaliation for raising these internal concerns, which reportedly involved the improper awarding of projects.
Simultaneously, Justice Juvvadi Sridevi is overseeing a petition filed by the Sultan-Ul-Loom Education Society and Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology. The institution has challenged the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for restricting access to their online portal. Despite receiving the Extension of Approval (EoA) for the 2026-27 academic year and reportedly meeting all regulatory requirements, the college has been unable to download the necessary certification. This administrative barrier has hindered the institution's ability to participate effectively in the current admission cycle. The AICTE counsel indicated that the restricted access was due to ongoing disputes regarding compliance with technical education standards, prompting the court to seek further clarification on the matter.
