HYDRAA Chief A.V. Ranganath Stands Firm, Vows Legal Fight in Contempt Cases

HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath has vowed to fight all 63 contempt of court cases pending against him, a day after the Telangana High Court ordered his replacement in a contempt matter, even as Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy strongly defended the agency and reaffirmed the government's commitment to its anti-encroachment mission. The developments have escalated into a significant institutional confrontation, with the judiciary stressing adherence to court orders while the state government maintains that HYDRAA's crackdown is aimed at protecting public assets from powerful encroachers.

In a statement issued on Monday, Ranganath said all 63 contempt petitions had been filed by influential land encroachers and alleged that the land mafia was misleading courts with false information to obstruct action against illegal occupations. Expressing complete faith in the judiciary, the senior IPS officer said he would contest every case through legal means and asserted that his actions had always been guided by the spirit of the Constitution.

The controversy stems from a batch of contempt petitions in which the Telangana High Court held that HYDRAA had allegedly continued demolition and enforcement activities despite judicial protection granted in certain land disputes, including a case involving Lothkunta in Secunderabad. Rejecting Ranganath's apology, the court directed the Chief Secretary to replace him as HYDRAA Commissioner, underscoring that executive authorities must strictly comply with judicial orders until they are modified or vacated.

Defending the agency's record, Ranganath said HYDRAA has safeguarded government lands, lakes and parks worth nearly ₹1.50 lakh crore since its inception in 2024. He said the agency has revived six lakes, initiated restoration work on 20 more water bodies, secured hundreds of lakes and parks, and reclaimed thousands of acres of encroached government land, handing them back to the government for public use and environmental conservation.

Established in 2024, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) was created to protect government lands, lakes, parks and public infrastructure from encroachments while improving urban flood resilience. Since then, it has emerged as one of the flagship initiatives of the Congress government in Telangana, drawing praise for reclaiming public assets but also facing criticism over demolition drives that have been challenged in courts.

Backing the agency, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy described HYDRAA as " one of Telangana's biggest reforms " and declared that the government would continue to strengthen it. While reiterating that the state has complete faith in the judiciary, he asserted that only "thieves, illegal encroachers and the BRS" want HYDRAA to be weakened, alleging that vested interests affected by the anti-encroachment drive were attempting to derail the agency through litigation.

The Chief Minister further argued that the appointment and transfer of government officials remained the prerogative of the state government and said the administration would examine the High Court's order while pursuing appropriate legal remedies. He also questioned the focus on the present case, claiming that former Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar had faced more than 400 contempt cases during the previous BRS government without similar demands for his removal.

With 63 contempt petitions pending and the High Court directing a change in leadership, the case has evolved beyond an individual officer into a broader debate over the balance between judicial oversight and executive enforcement. The Telangana government's response to the court's directive and the future course of HYDRAA's anti-encroachment campaign are now expected to be closely watched.