High Court raps HYDRAA, questions ‘parallel govt’ over Malkajgiri demolition

The Telangana High Court on Wednesday castigated HYDRAA for demolishing a compound wall at Malkajgiri despite subsisting court orders protecting the landowners’ possession. Justice NV Shravan Kumar questioned whether the agency was running a parallel government and initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath.

By Our Legal Correspondent 

Hyderabad: Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday came down heavily on HYDRAA over the demolition of a compound wall at Malkajgiri and questioned whether the agency was running a parallel government. 

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The Court also initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath and issued notice to him. The Court was hearing a petition filed by landowners challenging the demolition of their compound wall on July 18, 2026, followed by fencing and the erection of signboards on their property in Survey No.194/1 of Malkajgiri. 

The petitioners contended that the action was taken without notice and in violation of earlier High Court orders restraining the authorities from interfering with their possession. At the previous hearing, the Court had directed the District Collector, 

Medchal-Malkajgiri, the Mandal Revenue Officer, Malkajgiri, and the Tahsildar/MRO, Tirumalgiri, to appear before the Court with the relevant records and explain how the demolition and fencing were carried out despite the subsisting court orders. 

Appearing before the Court on Wednesday, the Collector and the concerned Revenue officials stated that they had not issued any permission or authorisation to HYDRAA to demolish the compound wall. 

Taking note of the statement, Justice Shravan Kumar questioned why HYDRAA was running a parallel government and expressed serious concern over the agency’s manner of functioning. The Judge observed that it appeared to have become a routine for authorities to demolish first and later come before the Court and apologise. 

The Court also took note of the fact that several writ petitions concerning the same land were pending before the High Court and that orders protecting the petitioners’ possession were subsisting. The earlier order had recorded that the Revenue authorities were aware of those orders and ought to have brought them to HYDRAA’s notice before permitting any action. 

Finding the circumstances serious, the Court proceeded to initiate suo motu contempt proceedings against HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath and issued a notice to him.