Hyderabad: The Telangana government cancelled its decision to lease Urdu Academy lands after opposition from minority leaders and political pressure.
The government issued GO-23, formally withdrawing the proposed lease of the land. The decision followed earlier orders that had placed the property under consideration for a long-term lease.
Officials had planned to lease 1.04 acres in Survey No. 29 at Darga Hussain Shawali village. The property falls under Serilingampally mandal in Rangareddy district.
The government had proposed a 30-year lease to Chennai-based NN Infra Company. However, minority leaders opposed the move and demanded that authorities withdraw the decision.
The issue surfaced after the government issued GO-20 on July 16. The matter later drew public attention after a report in Namaste Telangana highlighted the proposed lease.
Following the controversy, minority leaders stepped up their opposition. They also raised the matter with the Chief Secretary and officials of the Minority Welfare Department.
The government then issued GO-22 and temporarily put the lease decision on hold. However, minority leaders remained dissatisfied and continued to demand a complete withdrawal.
Urdu Academy lands decision follows sustained opposition
The government subsequently issued GO-23 and cancelled the lease decision. The latest order effectively ended the proposal to hand the Urdu Academy lands to the private company.
Minority leaders had argued that authorities should not transfer the property through an auction or lease arrangement. They also questioned the government’s approach to land belonging to minority institutions.
Yakub Pasha, state president of the Minority Association, criticised the proposed transfer of the property. He said the government should protect lands linked to mosques, Waqf, the Urdu Academy and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University.
Former State Waqf Board member Waheed Ahmed also welcomed the government’s decision. He attributed the withdrawal to protests by BRS and Muslim leaders against the proposed auction of the Urdu Academy lands.
The government’s three orders marked a reversal of its earlier position. GO-20 initiated the proposal, GO-22 temporarily halted it, and GO-23 finally cancelled the lease decision.
The Urdu Academy lands will therefore remain outside the proposed 30-year lease arrangement with NN Infra Company. The government issued the final cancellation order after sustained objections from minority representatives.