Telangana HC Suspends Order to Remove HYDRAA Chief A.V. Ranganath

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

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin issued the order while hearing an appeal filed by Ranganath. Senior advocate Rajiv Shakdher, former Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, appeared on behalf of Ranganath. After hearing arguments, the Bench stayed the operation of the Single Judge's directive and posted the matter for further hearing on November 3.

The dispute centres on 119 acres of land recorded in the General Land Register as GLR No. 243 in Secunderabad Cantonment. State authorities maintain that the B-2 classified land was earmarked for State government purposes, such as hospitals and educational institutions, and that the State government holds rights over the parcel. Following a requisition from Revenue authorities, HYDRAA erected fencing around the 119-acre extent on July 18, after Defence Estates officials confirmed the land's status and provided geo-coordinates.

The conflict developed over claims involving private land in Survey Nos. 1 and 2 at Lothukunta in Alwal mandal, located in Medchal-Malkajgiri district. HYDRAA asserted that the private survey lands lie roughly three kilometres away from the 119-acre parcel under GLR No. 243.

It was alleged that Shantha Sriram Constructions carried out construction activity on the government-claimed land in GLR No. 243 while relying on permissions for Survey Nos. 1 and 2. The company subsequently moved the High Court, initiating contempt proceedings against HYDRAA and against Ranganath in his personal capacity.

While hearing the contempt matter, the Single Judge made critical observations regarding the conduct of HYDRAA officials and instructed the Chief Secretary to replace Ranganath as Commissioner, leading to the appeal before the Division Bench.