HC to HYDRAA: obey, then talk
Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar pulled up HYDRAA chief A.V. Ranganath in the Suraram land case after an April order to take down a notice board wasn’t followed. Contempt notice issued; the Court warned career costs for continued non‑compliance.
The High Court has issued a contempt notice over non-compliance with its direction to remove a HYDRAA notice board.
The Telangana High Court has issued a contempt notice to HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath in the Suraram land dispute, after petitioners showed the agency left a public notice board standing despite the Court’s April 13 direction to remove such boards within 48 hours. According to a report of the May 6 hearing, the Court recorded photographs showing the board still up on April 27 and ordered notice in contempt. The recorded remark: “HYDRAA chief is continuously violating the court orders and in view of the same, issue contempt notice.”
On June 10, Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar also expressed displeasure that Ranganath skipped appearance despite earlier directions, cautioning that a hurried, non‑compliant approach could affect his professional career. The Court has not, at this stage, pronounced a final finding of contempt in the Suraram signage matter.
This is not HYDRAA’s first brush with judicial heat this year: in February, the High Court ordered removal of a fence in another case and flagged costs for non‑compliance; in April, the Court reiterated that demolitions require notice and due process. Different files, same message — follow the law first.
For the avoidance of spin: this is a state agency being told to do what the Court asked, on time. The BJP‑led Centre is fond of sermonising “ease of doing business”; obeying court orders is the floor. And the Congress, which discovered “rule of law” in opposition, might start by not getting in the way of it when it governs next door. Telangana’s courts are doing the basics; the politics can catch up later.