High Court Suspends Order to Remove HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath

The Telangana High Court on Tuesday suspended an order passed by a Single Judge that had directed the State government to remove A.V. Ranganath from his post as Commissioner of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA), in connection with a land dispute in the Secunderabad Cantonment area.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin issued the interim suspension while hearing an appeal filed by Ranganath against the earlier ruling. Senior advocate Rajiv Shakdher, former Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, appeared on behalf of Ranganath. After hearing the arguments, the Bench stayed the operation of the impugned directive and posted the appeal for further hearing on November 3.

The underlying legal dispute concerns a 119-acre tract of land recorded in the General Land Register as GLR No. 243 in the Secunderabad Cantonment zone. According to State authorities, the property is classified as B-2 land and earmarked for State government purposes, including educational institutions and hospitals, with the State holding title and protective responsibility over the land.

HYDRAA personnel erected fencing around the 119-acre area on July 18 following a formal requisition from Revenue officials. Defence Estates authorities had reportedly confirmed the status of the land and provided geo-coordinates along with a KML file to define the perimeter of the government-held parcel.

The conflict intensified over claims concerning private plots in Survey Nos. 1 and 2 of Lothukunta in Alwal mandal of Medchal-Malkajgiri district. HYDRAA maintained that these private survey numbers lie approximately three kilometres away from the 119-acre parcel at GLR No. 243.

It was alleged that Shantha Sriram Constructions undertook construction work on the land claimed by the government under GLR No. 243 while relying on building permissions related to Survey Nos. 1 and 2. The company subsequently moved the High Court, initiating contempt proceedings against HYDRAA as well as against Ranganath in his personal capacity.

The Single Judge, while adjudicating the contempt matter, made critical observations regarding the conduct of HYDRAA officials and directed the Chief Secretary to remove Ranganath from the post of Commissioner and appoint another officer in his place. Ranganath challenged the direction before the Division Bench, which granted the stay.