THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.10075 of 2007 ORDER: The petitioners are in possession and enjoyment of shops on the municipal road between Veer Sawarkar Chowrastha and Satyanarayana Chowrastha, Narayanpet Mandal, Mahabubnagar District. Steps were initiated by the respondents for widening of the road in the year 2002. The petitioners approached this Court by filing W.P.No.19492 of 2002. The writ petition was disposed of on 04.10.2022 directing that the respondents shall not demolish the structures without following the procedure prescribed by law. It is also stated that another writ petition, being W.P.No.12825 of 2004, was filed for the similar relief and the same was disposed of by this Court on 22.07.2004, in terms of the order in W.P.No.19492 of 2002. The 1st respondent issued notices, dated 23.03.2007, requiring the petitioners to remove the structure on a portion, which is constructed by encroaching the road or public property. The petitioners challenge the said notices. They contend that the impugned notices are issued contrary to the orders passed by this Court in two writ petitions referred to above. On behalf of respondents, a detailed counter-affidavit is filed. The scope and ambit of the orders passed in the writ petitions above. is explained. It is stated that the purport of the impugned notices is not to widen the road, but only to require the petitioners to remove the encroachments. It is urged that the petitioners do not have any title, nor they have placed the relevant documents. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned standing counsel for the respondents. The petitioners are under the impression that the impugned notices were issued for the purpose of widening of the road. That, however, is not so. The respondents have initiated steps for removal of encroachments. In case the petitioners are occupied, or constructed upon any public property, whether road margin, or otherwise, the Municipality is entitled to remove encroachments. The A.P. Municipalities Act empowers the Municipality to take such steps. The only way in which the petitioners could have resisted the efforts of the respondents was to place the documents in support of their title. If they do not have any title, they are under obligation to remove the structures made by them. Hence, the writ petition is disposed of, directing that it shall be open to the petitioners to submit their explanation, or place the documents pertaining to the title in respect of the portion indicated in the show cause notice within 15 days from the date on which the 1st respondent issues the reminder. If the petitioners fail to submit explanation or to file any documents in support of their title, it shall be open to the respondents to remove the encroachments. It is made clear that in case the municipality needs any land, owned by the petitioners, for the purpose of widening of the road, they shall be under obligation to follow the procedure prescribed by law. There shall be no order as costs. _____________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dt.17.03.2011. GJ