Blow to Amaravati Farmers: SC Backs R5 Zone House Site Allotment for the Needy

In a landmark decision that marks a setback for Amaravati farmers and their opposition, the Supreme Court has upheld the Andhra Pradesh Government's allocation of house sites to economically underprivileged individuals in the R5 Zone of the capital region. This verdict is seen as a significant triumph for the YSRCP government, headed by Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, and is particularly impactful for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and others who have been supporting the farmers' protest against the current regime. A division bench of the highest court in the land firmly affirmed the government's legal prerogative to allocate house sites to the economically marginalized population. In doing so, the Supreme Court validated the state government's initiative and recognized the legislative stipulation that requires a five percent allocation of house sites for economically weaker sections (EWS). Relying on Section 53.1D of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) Act, the division bench, led by Justice K M Joseph, endorsed the state government's decision to provide house sites to the economically disadvantaged. This judgment is consistent with the Andhra Pradesh High Court's earlier position on this issue. On May 5, 2023, a division bench of the High Court, under the leadership of Chief Justice Prashanth Kumar Mishra, rejected the petitions filed by Amaravati capital area farmers who were contesting the Government Order that designated house sites for non-locals and low-income groups in the R5 Zone. This decisive verdict from the Supreme Court fortifies the state government's commitment to addressing the housing needs of the economically underprivileged and advancing their standard of living in Amaravati's R5 Zone.