No stay for R-5 Zone orders of AP High Court: Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant a stay on the interim order passed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on the R-5 Zone in Amaravati.

On August 3, the High Court issued an interim order and halted the construction of houses by the State in Amaravati's R-5 Zone. Challenging the High Court orders, the Andhra Pradesh Government knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court.

A bench headed by Justice Sanjeev Khanna heard the petition filed by the Andhra Pradesh Government. The bench questioned if there was any link between the R-5 zone and the capital. Abhishek Singhvi, who appeared before the Supreme Court on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh Government, had presented his arguments.

“Andhra Pradesh Government has taken up the construction activity in R-5 Zone to expeditiously complete the houses construction programme mooted by the Central Government. The Government has committed to issuing pattas to the beneficiaries and begun the construction activity in R-5 Zone. However, the High Court has issued an interim order,” Abhishek Singhvi told the Supreme Court.

Notices in this regard were issued by the Supreme Court to respondents and ordered them to provide a response in three weeks. Apart from that, the Supreme Court had also directed the petitioners to file the rejoinder petition within another three weeks after filing the counter by the respondents.