HC pulls up HYDRAA chief, asks DGP to ensure his appearance on Nov 17 | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Taking a serious view of HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath’s alleged failure to comply with court directions, the Telangana high court on Wednesday directed the state’s director general of police to ensure that the agency chief personally appears before it on Nov 17. It also directed Cyberabad police to ensure that Shamshabad tahsildar Amar Lingam appears before the court along with Ranganath on the same day.Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy passed the directions while hearing a contempt case filed by Mohammed Tajamaluddin over the alleged demolition of a structure on 43,560 square yards (about 9 acres) of land in Shamshabad in violation of court directions. The judge also dismissed separate interlocutory applications filed by the HYDRAA commissioner and the tahsildar, seeking exemption from personal appearance.The case pertains to land owned by Tajamaluddin, which was placed on the prohibited properties list under Section 22-A of the Registration Act. In Oct 2024, Justice Bhaskar Reddy permitted the petitioner to file an application along with documents supporting his right and title, seeking removal of the land from the prohibited list.The court directed the authorities to examine the application, take necessary steps and pass a reasoned order in accordance with law, provided the petitioner fulfilled the prescribed conditions.However, Tajamaluddin alleged that HYDRAA took forcible possession of his property without issuing any notice and in violation of the principles of natural justice. It allegedly “dismantled the existing structure and erected fencing, along with a nameplate declaring that the property belongs to the govt”.Contending that the petitioner was the absolute owner of the land and was in possession since the 1980s, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that despite the court’s directions, the tahsildar and HYDRAA commissioner had forcibly taken possession of the property and urged the court to punish the officials for contempt of court.During its previous hearing on Oct 13, the court had issued notices directing both officials to appear before it on Nov 11. However, both failed to be present in court on Wednesday.