The Telangana High Court has strongly criticized the actions of Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, directing him to file an affidavit with an apology and explanation for his interference in a matter related to 40 acres of land in Lothkunta village, Ranga Reddy district.
Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti stated that the HYDRAA Commissioner had become ‘a law unto himself,’ recalling the previous day’s order to deploy army forces to prevent HYDRAA officials from interfering with the property. The judge noted that it had become a regular phenomenon for HYDRAA officials to flout court orders.
The judge had initially passed a direction to position army forces at the site in Lothkunta but kept it in abeyance after the Advocate General A. Sudershan Reddy assured the bench that an affidavit would be filed by the HYDRAA Commissioner. On Friday, the judge recalled the order, stating that the HYDRAA Commissioner should file an affidavit with an apology and explain the reasons for entering the property despite specific court orders not to do so.
Justice Anil Kumar expressed concern over the HYDRAA Commissioner’s actions, wondering about the audacity of the officer in filing a counter affidavit without an apology in a contempt case. The judge emphasized that there cannot be a counter affidavit in a contempt case and that the HYDRAA officials’ entry into the petitioner’s land and demolition of the property was a wilful disobedience of court orders.
The judge also questioned the HYDRAA Commissioner’s authority, asking if the officer was ‘a law unto himself’ and if all other Acts should be abolished in favor of the HYDRAA Act. The judge noted that three contempt cases in a single matter would be difficult for any court to digest, stating that the officer’s actions were wrong and that he could not interfere in a matter already decided by the Supreme Court.
The HYDRAA Commissioner’s actions had compelled a private company, M/s Shanta Sriram Constructions Private Limited, to file three contempt of court petitions against him.
