The government is likely to move the HC Division Bench to take action on the HYDRAA commissioner

The state government is awaiting a copy of Telangana High Court Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti’s order to the Chief Secretary to remove Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection (HYDRAA) Commissioner AV Ranganath and replace him with a suitable officer.

“We are yet to receive the full copy of the order from the Supreme Court. Until we go through the copy of the order and its directions, no further action can be taken,” top government sources told The Hindu on Monday. It was found that a full copy of the order would not be available until two days later.

With Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy away in Delhi and unlikely to return by Wednesday, the government appears to be in no rush to implement the directive. “We will wait for the Chief Minister’s return and only after the meeting will he decide what needs to be done next,” the sources noted.

It is understood that the government is likely to approach the Telangana High Court Division to challenge the order. It has been reliably learned that the government does not want to allow any reason for HYDRAA’s work on intervention and reclamation of disturbed lands and lakes under the direction of its commissioner. In all likelihood, it would urge the Division Bench to remain in the order.

It may be mentioned here that the Telangana High Court on Monday (July 27, 2026) directed the Chief Secretary to remove IPS officer AV Ranganath as HYDRAA Commissioner and appoint a suitable replacement. The direction came from Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti while hearing a series of contempt cases arising out of allegations that HYDRAA officials violated court orders during an operation on the disputed land in Lothkunta.

The dispute relates to a plot of land measuring 40 acres claimed by M/s Shanta Sriram Constructions Private Limited. The company claimed that HYDRAA officials entered the site in July with nearly 50 vehicles and approximately 200 personnel. According to the petitioner, the officials damaged the containers, chairs, tables and other office infrastructure while demolishing the sheet metal structures in the premises and claimed that the land belongs to the government.

While opposition parties welcomed the Supreme Court directive with BJP chief N. Ramachander Rao demanding the scrapping of HYDRAA, the BRS claimed that the court proceedings vindicated the party’s view on the agency that it should target only the poor and middle-class people and not the rich. However, the Congress countered the opposition’s argument that HYDRAA was essential to protect Hyderabad’s lakes, ponds, drains, roads and public lands from encroachment.

Published – 27 Jul 2026 22:12 IST