Telangana High Court halts construction of high-rise project citing major regulatory lapses

On May 30, 2019, original permission was granted for two cellars, three stilts, 25 upper floors, and amenities split between the 1st and 2nd floors. In 2024, M/S Shreemukh Namitha Homes Pvt Ltd applied for a fresh construction proposal for two cellars, four stilts, and 28 upper floors. On May 11, 2024, the GHMC issued a shortfall intimation letter, pointing out 18 violations, including a lack of Fire Department NOC, Airport Authority clearance, and deviations from the approved plan. The GHMC, specifically, directed the builder not to commence any type of construction till the shortfalls are complied with.

The petitioner, through his counsel K Pratik Reddy, brought to the court’s attention an order dated June 11, 2025, issued by the GHMC. This order revalidated the construction permission for the project for another two years. However, the petitioner argued that this revalidation was illegal and arbitrary, as it was granted despite a prior “shortfall intimation letter” from the GHMC dated May 11, 2025. This letter had noted several objections and explicitly stated that no construction should commence until the developer complied with the stipulated requirements within 15 days.

The court noted that the impugned revalidation letter made no reference to the prior shortfall letter or to any rectification measures taken by the developer. In light of these submissions, the court granted an interim direction, instructing M/S Shreemukh Namitha Homes Pvt Ltd to immediately cease all further construction on the project until the next hearing.

Justice K Vijaysen Reddy questioned GHMC’s move to extend permissions for two more years in June 2025 without addressing the earlier stop-work order issued in May 2025. The court observed that allowing such lapses would lead to unauthorized construction and pose serious risks to public safety.