Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday asked the TS government whether it had any proof to back its claim that the Victoria Memorial Home land in Saroornagar belongs to the government.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice M. Ganga Rao was dealing with a PIL by L. Buchi Reddy, president of V.M. Home Orphan Old Students Association, challenging the decision of the state government to lease 10 acres of the land belonging to VM Home to Rachakonda Police Commissionerate for constructing its headquarters.

The bench instructed the state government not to demolish the buildings of the VM Home.

Sarasani Satyam Reddy, senior counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the Victoria Memorial Home was established by Nizam VI, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan in 1903 with the main objective of educating orphans.

He said that this philanthropic organisation is housed in a grand heritage building in 73.33 acres of land in Survey Nos. 6 and 12 of Saroornagar village.

Mr Reddy contended that the government has no power to affect this transfer as it was only a custodian of this endowment property.

He stated that the Home was registered under the Endowments Act in 1957 and an executive committee comprising various government officials of Social Welfare Department was entrusted with the day-to-day running of the institution.

J. Ramachandra Rao, TS additional advocate-general, submitted that VM Home was registered under the Societies Registration Act and the lands are not trust lands and most of it is lying vacant.

He told the court there was no immediate threat to the buildings of the Home.

While asking the AAG to submit proof showing that the land belongs to the government, the bench adjourned the case.