THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.19701 OF 2009 Dated 10th December, 2009 Between: Neeli Satyanarayana and another …Petitioners And The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation …Resondent The Court made the following ORDER: The petitioners claim to be the owners of Ac.0.40 cents of land in Survey No.68 (P) of Salipeta, Pedagadili Village of Visakhapatnam District and that they have constructed a thatched house on a part of the said land. The property is said to have been assessed to tax by the respondent and that electricity connection has been extended. The grievance of the petitioners is that the respondent is trying to demolish the structures upon the land in the process of widening the road, without acquiring it and without paying compensation. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Standing Counsel for the respondent. Whenever the property of a private individual is needed for a public purpose, it has to be acquired under the relevant provisions of law. The respondent has the facility to acquire the land by following the procedure prescribed under the Land Acquisition Act as well as the one under the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act. If the petitioners are the owners of the property claimed by them and that the same is needed for widening of the road, steps have to be initiated, in accordance with law. Hence, the writ petition is disposed of, directing that the respondent shall not interfere with or take possession of the property owned by the petitioners, without initiating proceedings, in accordance with law. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J Dated 10th December, 2009 Note: Issue operative portion by wire at party’s cost vrn