The Telangana High Court has ordered the state’s heritage authority to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) within four weeks to Aditya Homes, permitting the construction of villas in the regulated zone of Golconda Fort. The decision comes after years of delays despite clearance from the National Monuments Authority (NMA) in 2008 and reaffirmation in 2019.
Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya clarified that Golconda Fort is governed by national law under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, while the Quli Qutub Shahi Tombs fall under state protection via the Telangana Heritage Act, 2017.
The court dismissed concerns raised by social activist Mohammed Azam Khan, who filed a PIL arguing the construction would harm the proposed heritage corridor between the fort and tombs. Justice Bhattacharya questioned Khan’s legal standing, noting the project had received NMA approval.
The High Court criticized the state heritage authority for its prolonged inaction despite clear directives from the NMA, emphasizing that regulated zones allow construction under approved conditions. The NOC must now be issued within a month.
