Hyderabad, May 17 -- The Telangana High Court has directed authorities to immediately remove encroachments on roads, parks, pavements and open spaces in the Baghlingampally Housing Board colony in Hyderabad, observing that unchecked illegal occupation and official negligence had turned a well-planned residential area into a "slum-like locality".

Justice NV Shravan Kumar issued the directions while hearing a petition filed by the Saptagiri Enclave Residents Welfare Association and 14 residents of the HIG-2 section of Baghlingampally over alleged road encroachments.

The court also ordered an inquiry against officials who allegedly ignored repeated representations over the years and thereby encouraged encroachments through inaction.

Petit...