Telangana HC imposes Rs 50,000 fine on HYDRAA Commissioner for non-compliance in land case

The Telangana High Court imposed a Rs 50,000 cost on the HYDRAA Commissioner for repeatedly failing to file counter affidavits in writ petitions concerning disputed land in Yousufguda. The court linked acceptance of HYDRAA's counter affidavit to compliance with the order

Hyderabad: Justice NV Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court has imposed costs of Rs 50,000 on the Commissioner of HYDRAA for non-compliance with its earlier directions and for repeatedly failing to file counter affidavits in a batch of writ petitions concerning a disputed land at Yousufguda in Hyderabad.

The writ petitions relate to land admeasuring Ac.2.00 guntas in Survey No.45 at Yousufguda, where the petitioners alleged interference by various authorities, including HYDRAA, despite earlier orders of the High Court directing maintenance of status quo.

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Counsel for the petitioners submitted that the land had been handed over to the legal heirs of late Farhatullah pursuant to orders of the Supreme Court and that they had been in continuous possession since 2008. It was further contended that notwithstanding the status quo orders passed by the High Court, HYDRAA officials, with police assistance, entered the property, demolished the compound wall and erected barbed fencing and signboards claiming the land as part of a Housing Board open space.

The Court noted that despite a final opportunity granted on April 8, 2026, the respondents had failed to file counter affidavits. It also observed that the counter affidavit purportedly filed by HYDRAA was returned at the scrutiny stage and had not been brought on record.

Taking serious note of the non-compliance, Justice Shravan Kumar directed that the matter be posted on June 15, 2026, subject to the condition that the Commissioner, HYDRAA, deposits Rs 50,000 towards Chief Justice Relief Fund.

The Court further made it clear that the Registry shall accept the counter affidavit only after compliance with the said condition.