Huge number of officers and staff quarters in Hyderabad still in possession of A.P. govt

The Telangana government is facing difficulties in allotment of staff quarters to its officers, including those from the All India Services, in spite of owning several buildings/quarters in prime areas.

More than 12 years after the State bifurcation and two years after Hyderabad ceased to be the joint capital, hundreds of officers and staff quarters continue to be in the possession of the Andhra Pradesh government. Around 600 quarters continue to be under the A.P. pool of which 221 are still occupied by the staff and officers of the neighbouring State, and 368 are lying vacant.

Of the 44 quarters which were allotted to A.P. post-bifurcation in the upmarket Banjara Hills locality, 34 are still occupied by the officers/staff of the neighbouring State, and 10 are vacant. The same is the case with the quarters in prime area Kundanbagh where 34 quarters are still occupied by the officers of the neighbouring State with another 10 vacant quarters in their possession.

There are also quarters in Errummanzil, Patigadda, Madannapaet and Malakpet, some occupied by A.P. staff and some lying vacant. The State government has raised the issue several times during the bilateral meetings between the two States and repeated requests made by the Telangana government asking the neighbouring State to vacate the quarters went in vain.

The A.P. government has been maintaining that a writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking fair, equitable and expeditious division of assets and liabilities between the two State through appointment of an impartial and independent arbitrator. The Telangana government has been arguing that the Supreme Court has not granted any interim relief to the neighbouring State as the petition was liable to be dismissed solely on the ground that it is not maintainable under Article 32 of the Constitution.

There are no orders of the Supreme Court to keep the vacated buildings under the possession of Andhra Pradesh. “They are citing lame excuses when asked to vacate the buildings/quarters even after accepting the process for division of assets pertaining to 53 institutions under Schedule IX” a senior official told The Hindu.

Officials are of the view that the impasse can be resolved only through negotiations at the ministerial level or at the level of the Chief Ministers of the two States in line with the recommendations made by the Union Home Ministry.