IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE E.V.VENUGOPAL WRIT PETITION No.7656 of 2026 DATE OF ORDER: 12.03.2026 Between:

Mr. Harijana Raju ...Petitioner AND The State of Telangana rep by its Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Department, Secretariat and others ...Respondents

ORDER :

This Writ Petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is filed seeking the following relief:

“…pleased to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, more particularly, one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring show cause notice dated 05/03/2026 (bearing No.GP/A1/2026). as arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional and contemptuous Consequently, direct the respondent authorities to forbear from taking any coercive steps to close/dismantle the petitioner brick kiln in Survey No.68, Utthanur Village, and to allow the petitioner to continue their operations for a reasonable time to enable them to clear their existing stock of bricks and wind up their business in an orderly manner, thereby protecting their livelihood directing Respondents to consider and pass appropriate orders on the petitioner representation dated 07.03.2026, in accordance with law, and after affording a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the petitioner, in the interests of justice, and pass.…”

2. Heard Sri Md.Arshad Ahmed, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Sri Ashok Kumar, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj, for respondent Nos.1, 4 and 5, Sri Mahesh, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue, for respondent Nos.2 and 3 and Sri Santosh Reddy, learned counsel representing Sri Pradeep Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for Grampanchayat, ZPP and MPP, for respondent Nos.6 to 9 and perused the record.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is poor and marginalized residents of Utthanur Village and, along with his family, have been running a small-scale brick kiln (Ituka Bhatti) for the past seven years on land bearing Survey No.68, situated on the outskirts of the village. The brick kiln constitutes their sole source of livelihood and sustains his family. Presently he has approximately three lakh unbaked bricks along with other raw materials at the site, representing his substantial financial investment derived from savings and borrowed funds.

4. It is submitted that on 06.03.2026, officials of the Utthanur Gram Panchayat, along with revenue authorities, visited the site and verbally directed the petitioner to stop operations immediately on the ground of alleged lack of permissions. No prior notice or opportunity of hearing was granted before issuing such direction, thereby violating the principles of natural justice and causing serious hardship, as the petitioner’s livelihood has been abruptly affected. Subsequently, a show cause notice dated 05.03.2026 was issued by the Panchayat Secretary, directing the petitioner to submit an explanation within three (03) working days regarding removal of the brick kiln. The verbal closure preceded the notice, rendering the process unfair. Nevertheless, the petitioner is willing to submit his explanation in response to the notice.

5. It is further contend that the impugned action is being taken at the instance of respondent No.8, the Up-Sarpanch, who allegedly bears personal animosity towards them and has made false complaints to the authorities. The petitioner, being economically weak and belonging to a Scheduled Caste community, state that he is being targeted due to personal bias and possible social discrimination. Aggrieved by the closure action and notices issued pursuant to a Gram Sabha resolution dated 19.02.2026, the petitioner submitted a detailed representation on 07.03.2026 seeking reasonable time of two months to dispose of his existing stock and avoid severe financial loss. However, no response has been received, and coercive action continues to threaten their livelihood. Hence,