Putting brake on demolition of unauthorised constructions in Hyderabad, the Hyderabad High Court on Friday directed the municipal authorities to issue notice to the occupiers before razing such structures.

The High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh found fault with the manner in which Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is demolishing the unauthorised structures.

The court asked GHMC to issue notice and give the occupiers three weeks’ time to respond. It observed that after this period, the GHMC may take action after conveying to the owners why the structures are unauthorized and why they have to be demolished.

The court passed the orders on a series of petitions filed by the owners of unauthorised constructions, challenging the action of GHMC.

The municipal body earlier this week launched the massive drive and during last four days it razed over 600 structures.

The action came after the authorities found that several localities in the city and outskirts were inundated last week following heavy rains due to unauthorized constructions on ‘nalas’ or open storm water drains blocking the natural flow of rain water.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had said that 28,000 unauthorised constructions were identified. He had asked GHMC to go ahead with the demolition of all such structures without succumbing to pressure from any political party, minister, MP, MLA or any other politician.

The high court on Wednesday had stayed demolition of a couple of structures. The court had observed that while it can understand the intention behind for demolitions, the GHMC should adopt the proper method.

The court also wanted to know from the government as to what action it proposed to take against the officials who had turned a blind eye to unauthorized structures all these years.