THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM W.P.No. 2531 of 2008 08-02-2008 Between: S. Ramesh Babu and others. Petitioners And Municipal Corporation of Vijayawada, Vijayawada rep., by it’s Commissioner. Respondent. THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM W.P.No. 2531 of 2008 Oral Order: Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned standing counsel appearing for the respondent. The petitioners allege to be owners of residential houses in Wynchpet now called as Tarapet of Vijayawada, Krishna district. The grievance of the petitioners is that the officials of the respondent Corporation proposed to widen the road from Panja Centre to Railway Station on the western side and marked the houses of the petitioners for demolition without issuing any notice or opportunity of hearing. The petitioners also state to have made representation to the respondent on 02-01-2008 to take the land on the northern side for widening the road. The respondent neither disposed of the said representation nor issued any notice but are making arrangements to demolish the houses of the petitioners, is the complaint. A learned Division Bench of this Court in P. Lakshmana Rao v. Executive Officer (2000 (5) ALT 246 D.B.) formulated certain guidelines, when the State or instrumentalities of the State resort to demolition of the property of a citizen. In the facts and circumstances of the case, following the dicta laid down in the decision of the Division Bench supra, and for reasons alike, this writ petition is disposed of directing the respondent to issue notice and afford opportunity of hearing to the petitioners before resorting to demolition of the structures for the purpose of road widening and in accordance with law. Till such time, the respondent is directed to maintain status-quo as regards the possession of the houses obtaining as on today. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. ____________________ GODA RAGHURAM, J Dated: 08-02-2008 pvks Nb:- Furnish c.c. in two days. B/o pvks