The Telangana High Court on Monday, April 28, dismissed an appeal seeking interim relief against the demolition of houses on Bhoodan lands in Velugumatla village of Khammam district, refusing to interfere with an earlier single judge order. A Division Bench comprising Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya and Justice Gadi Praveen Kumar rejected the appeal at the admission stage, upholding the March 25 order of the single judge, which had declined to stay the demolition drive. The petitioners had challenged the large-scale demolitions carried out pursuant to proceedings issued in January 2026, arguing that the state lacked jurisdiction over Bhoodan lands except in accordance with the Telangana Bhoodan and Gramdhan Act, 1965. They contended that nearly 1,000 houses were demolished during the drive, while only 311 pattas were granted, alleging that some beneficiaries were not among those displaced. The appellants also argued that pattas were issued under an inapplicable legal framework and that allotments to third parties had created competing claims over the land. Further, they objected to the single judge relying on written instructions instead of a formal affidavit while declining interim relief. However, the state opposed the appeal, submitting that a detailed enquiry had been conducted by revenue authorities before initiating action. It informed the court that rehabilitation measures were underway, including allotment of house sites and Indiramma houses to eligible beneficiaries.