Telangana HC issues contempt notices to HYDRAA Commissioner

The Telangana High Court issued contempt notices to HMDA Commissioner and other officials after a petition alleged illegal demolitions in Ameenpur mandal despite prior court orders restraining interference.

By Our Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday issued contempt notices to A.V. Ranganath, Commissioner of HYDRAA, along with senior officials from multiple departments, over alleged violations of court orders in connection with demolitions carried out on April 11 at Ailapur village in Sangareddy district.

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The action followed a contempt petition filed by M.A. Shareef, a nonagenarian agriculturist, who claimed longstanding ownership and possession of 36.37 acres of land in Ameenpur mandal.

The petitioner relied on pattadar passbooks, registered sale deeds dating back to 1959, and earlier judicial findings to assert his rights over the property, contending that his possession had remained undisputed for decades.

The court had previously restrained authorities, including HYDRAA, from interfering with existing constructions and directed adherence to due process in matters involving alleged Full Tank Level (FTL) encroachments.

However, counsel for the petitioner submitted that, in the early hours of April 11, a large contingent of officials, accompanied by police personnel, entered the land and undertook demolition using heavy machinery.

It was alleged that several structures, including a farmhouse, storage facilities, servant quarters, cattle sheds, and compound walls, were demolished during the operation.

The petitioner further claimed that CCTV equipment was seized and caretakers on the premises were subjected to intimidation. Arguing that the operation amounted to wilful disobedience of the court’s earlier directions, counsel contended that the timing of the demolition — at around 4.30 a.m. and on a holiday — appeared calculated to prevent the petitioner from seeking immediate legal recourse.

Taking note of the submissions, Justice Bhasker Reddy directed issuance of notices to the HYDRAA Commissioner; district authorities including the Collector and Joint Collector of Sangareddy; revenue officials of Ameenpur mandal; officials of GHMC and local panchayat bodies; as well as the Station House Officer of Ameenpur Police Station, seeking their response on the alleged violation of the court’s order.