Court: HYDRAA is not above court orders
The Telangana High Court held that HYDRAA officials breached a restraint order in the Lothukunta land dispute and asked the Chief Secretary to relieve Commissioner A.V. Ranganath. Whether the state acted remains unclear.
The High Court said HYDRAA officials breached a restraint order in the Lothukunta land dispute.
The Telangana High Court has held that HYDRAA officials violated its restraint order by entering about 40 acres in Lothukunta, Malkajgiri mandal, and directed administrative action against Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, IPS. The order is dated July 27, 2026, in contempt cases filed by M/s Shanta Sriram Constructions Private Limited.
The court recorded that HYDRAA’s counsel had earlier undertaken that its officers would not enter the property. The petitioner later alleged that HYDRAA staff, machinery and police personnel entered the land on July 17 or 18 and demolished temporary structures during fencing work. The government-side explanation was that HYDRAA had been asked to assist revenue officials with demarcation. The court noted that no notice to the petitioner, or written revenue request for the fencing, had been produced.
Calling the conduct “willful, deliberate, intentional disobedience”, the court rejected Ranganath’s apology and said he was to be relieved as HYDRAA commissioner. It asked the Chief Secretary to find a replacement. The available record does not establish that Ranganath was actually transferred or that the state acted. A September 1 report says he challenged the order, but no appeal number, filing record or stay order has been verified. HYDRAA has not publicly responded in the material reviewed. The court’s message was simpler than the administrative paperwork: “Rule of Law has to prevail NOT Rule of Men.”