Hyderabad, Jan 5 (IANS): In a blow to the TRS government in Telangana, the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday directed it not to acquire lands for various irrigation projects under the state government order.

The High Court, in its interim order, said lands should not be acquired under Government Order (GO) 123.

The court, however, ruled that the state government can acquire the lands under Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

The division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan passed the orders on a batch of petitions filed by farmers affected by projects like Mallanna Sagar and others.

The petitioners alleged that the government is forcibly acquiring lands from them under GO 123 when there is already a central legislation for land acquisition.

The government, however, denied that it is forcibly acquiring lands. It informed the court that it is taking lands only from those who are coming forward voluntarily.

The government also argued that it is paying more compensation than under the 2013 act.