Telangana High Court questions state priorities on welfare, land compensation

Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday questioned the state government's priorities in pushing for resumption of marriage aid schemes while land losers await compensation for acquired properties. The court was hearing a writ petition challenging eight Government Orders that extended financial assistance under the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes. The additional advocate general argued the schemes had Cabinet and Assembly backing and urged the court to vacate an interim stay granted on August 12, which had halted disbursements.

Telangana Today reports that the judge asked: 'Is it not the statutory duty of the State to pay compensation to the land losers?' and noted that state officers had cited financial difficulty in paying land losers. Times of India quotes the judge saying 'several land losers, some even across generations, who contributed to the state and nation building by giving up their land are in courts seeking compensation.' The judge observed that if the state paid timely compensation and created jobs, people might not need welfare schemes. The court posted the matter to Thursday, August 20, for further hearing and directed the state to get clear instructions on clearing land acquisition dues.