Telangana HC says HYDRAA chief has become 'law unto himself', orders apology
The High Court criticised the HYDRAA commissioner for repeatedly violating judicial orders in a property dispute, comparing his conduct to that of a habitual offender and demanding an unconditional apology.
The commissioner and the courts.
The Telangana High Court on Friday expressed severe displeasure with HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath over repeated violations of court orders in a dispute involving a 40-acre property in Lothukunta, Malkajgiri mandal.
Justice Anil Jukanti observed that the commissioner "has become a law unto himself", noting that various government departments were approaching HYDRAA rather than acting independently. The judge said the agency was invoking the HYDRAA Act to oppose all actions taken against it.
The court ordered the commissioner to appear personally on Monday and submit an unconditional apology. The judge also required HYDRAA to provide assurance that it would not enter the property again and to explain its actions on July 18, when the agency allegedly deployed approximately 200 personnel in over 50 vehicles and trespassed on the land.
The case stems from a property dispute involving Shanta Sriram Constructions Private Limited, which claims ownership of the land. HYDRAA alleges portions of it are government defence property. Three contempt petitions have been filed in relation to the same issue, suggesting a pattern of alleged repeated violations.
The High Court had previously ordered army deployment to protect the disputed property after the agency allegedly continued trespassing. The Advocate General later intervened, offering assurances that led the court to defer the deployment temporarily. The court's order on Friday came after allegations of further violations following those assurances.