Hyderabad, Jan. 29 -- The Telangana High Court has clarified that district collectors lack the authority to denotify forest land and convert it into general land. This decision arose from a petition concerning the sale of 72 acres in survey number 249, located in Kongarakalan village, Ibrahimpatnam mandal, Rangareddy district.

Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy instructed state and local officials to halt any transactions related to this land, emphasizing that no alterations in land classification should occur.

The case was brought forth by petitioner K Praveen Goud, who contested the Rangareddy district collector's directive to remove the 72 acres from the list of prohibited lands.

The judge firmly stated, "You should not allow any change in th...