Telangana HC orders Chief Secretary to relieve IPS officer Ranganath as HYDRAA Commissioner

HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath. File | Photo credit: RAMAKRISHNA G

In a major development that could have wider implications for the functioning of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), 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.

At the heart of the dispute is a 40-acre plot of land 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.

The dispute has seen a series of dramatic court interventions over the past week. On July 23, the Supreme Court ordered the deployment of armed forces to protect the 40-acre property. However, the order was subsequently stayed till July 24 after Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy informed the court that the government would file an affidavit that HYDRAA officials had not entered the private land.

The matter took a turn for the worse on July 24 when the court ordered Mr. Ranganath to submit an affidavit containing an apology and explanation regarding his alleged interference in the land dispute. Although an affidavit was filed, Justice Jukanti still ordered the Chief Secretary to remove the officer as HYDRAA Commissioner.

For the state government, the challenge now goes beyond just appointing a new HYDRAA commissioner. This episode highlights the need for greater institutional safeguards, transparency in enforcement actions and strict compliance with court orders to avoid similar controversies in the future.

Published – 27 Jul 2026 16:39 IST