HC stays e-auction of 5 acres land in IT hub

Hyderabad: In a major setback to the Telangana government, the Telangana High Court, through a single bench presided over by Justice NV Shravan Kumar, on Thursday granted an interim stay on all further proceedings relating to the e-auction of five acres of land situated in Survey No. 83/1, Hyderabad Knowledge City, Raidurg Panmaktha Village, Serilingampally Mandal, Ranga Reddy district.

The interim order will remain in force for a period of three weeks. The land in question was originally allotted by the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TGIIC), formerly TSIIC, to the State Bank of Hyderabad, now State Bank of India (SBI), through an auction conducted in 2010 at a price of approximately Rs 13.3 crore per acre.

According to the petitioner, the property presently commands a significantly higher market value and is estimated to be worth around Rs 260 crore per acre.

The writ petition was filed by the State Bank of India, represented by its Assistant General Manager, Premises and Estates Department, Hyderabad.

SBI contended that it has remained in possession of the property since the original allotment in 2010 and that the allotment has never been cancelled. The bank challenged the e-auction notice dated May 6, 2026, and the subsequent e-auction conducted on May 28, 2026, insofar as it related to its allotted land.

The petitioner sought a declaration that the e-auction sale dated May 28, 2026, concerning Plot No. 1A measuring Ac. 5.00 guntas (20,239.40 square metres) in Hyderabad Knowledge City, in favour of Gowra Ventures Pvt. Ltd., is unconstitutional, arbitrary, illegal, violative of Articles 14 and 300-A of the Constitution of India, and contrary to the principles of natural justice. SBI also sought the setting aside of the auction and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom.

After hearing the matter, Justice NV Shravan Kumar ordered a stay of all further proceedings connected with the impugned e-auction for a period of three weeks.

The court also directed TGIIC to file its counter-affidavit and issued notice to Gowra Ventures Pvt. Ltd., calling upon the company to respond to the petition.The matter is expected to be taken up for further consideration after the respondents file their responses before the Court.