A division bench of Telangana High Court on Tuesday suspended the operation of a single judge order to relieve IPS officer A.V. Ranganath from the post of HYDRAA Commissioner in a contempt of court case.
The bench of Justices P. Sam Koshy and Narsinga Rao Nandikonda, allowing the two writ appeals filed by Mr. Ranganath seeking to set aside the single judge’s common order in two contempt cases, said the suspension order would be in force till November 3 when it would hear the matter again. The bench directed both the HYDRAA Commissioner (contemnor) and the M/s Shanta Sriram Constructions Private Limited to maintain status quo over the ‘subject property’ (40 acres of land) in Lothkunta village of Malkajgiri in northern part of Hyderabad.
On July 27, the single judge passed an order in a contempt of court case (filed by the private construction company) observing that the court was of the considered opinion that MR. Ranganath was to be relieved from HYDRAA Commissioner post. The judge said the actions of the Commissioner in the subject property constituted “wilful, deliberate, intentional disobedience to the restraining orders of the court and breach of an undertaking given.” He requested the Chief Secretary to find a suitable replacement for Mr. Ranganath as early as possible in the interest of justice, to uphold Rule of Law and the Majesty of the Courts.
Senior counsel Rajiv Shakdher appearing for HYDRAA standing counsel contended that Mr. Ranganath was punished with a direction to relieve him of the post without issuing any notices and making prima facie case of contempt against him. The officer should have been given another opportunity to place all records pertaining to the subject property before the single judge. The bench sought to know from the senior counsel if it did not appear to be a case of HYDRAA acting in haste in demolishing some structures on the subject property.
The construction company counsel argued the single judge had explained how the Revenue officials and staff of HYDRAA entered the subject property and demolished some structures. The senior counsel argued that while the contempt was one issue the judge had no power to ask the government to replace the officer. The bench noted that HYDRAA could have explained to the single judge bench and furnished records substantiating that the subject property belonged to the government.
The construction company counsel argued that a direction to relieve an officer of a post cannot be regarded as punishment. It was not a punishment and the said officer was not removed or dismissed from service, he said. The bench observed that contemnor had a right to appeal and it was only admitting the appeal and suspended the order till next date of hearing.
Published – September 01, 2026 08:21 pm IST
