Senior YSR Congress party leader and former minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy has received partial relief from the Supreme Court in a case involving the alleged encroachment of 3.88 acres of land belonging to Buggamatham, a religious trust in Tirupati district.
A division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, ordered that the status quo be maintained on the land until the case is resolved.
The disputed land includes 1.50 acres in Survey No. 261/1 and 2.38 acres in Survey No. 261/2, both located in the MR Palli area of Tirupati and registered under Buggamatham. It has been alleged that Peddireddy encroached upon the property and began construction.
Earlier, the Executive Officer (EO) of the trust had ordered that the land be vacated within 10 days. Peddireddy challenged the EO’s directive in the High Court, which ruled that any objections must be addressed through the Endowments Tribunal.
On May 28, Peddireddy appealed the High Court’s ruling in the Supreme Court. During the hearing, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra appeared for the state government, while Mukul Rohatgi represented Peddireddy.
Luthra reiterated that the High Court had clearly directed the matter be taken up by the Endowments Tribunal.
The Supreme Court bench has now issued a notice to the Andhra Pradesh government, directing it to file a counter affidavit within one week.
Peddireddy has been asked to submit a rejoinder within the following week. The next hearing is scheduled for August 5.
