The Telangana High Court on Friday (December 05) accepted the ‘unconditional apology’ tendered by HYDRAA Commissioner and IPS officer A.V. Ranganath in a contempt of court case relating to Bathukammakunta lake at Amberpet here.
The senior official personally appeared before the bench of Justices Moushumi Bhattacharya and Gadi Praveen Kumar in a contempt of court case filed by a businessman A. Sudhakar Reddy arising out of a civil miscellaneous appeal. The petitioner filed this appeal seeking to set aside an order passed by a lower court over his original suit claiming rights over a piece of land in Bathukammakunta.
While a coordinate bench of the HC on May 7 passed an order to maintain status quo over the land, another bench on May 28 modified that order permitting the HYDRAA to undertaken necessary pre-monsoon works to check inundation of the area.
On June 12, the Division Bench directed the HYDRAA not to to encroach upon the interest of the property of the petitioner. Meanwhile, the HDYRAA undertook some works at the site ‘to ensure the area in the vicinity of the property’ was inundated. Citing this as contempt of the court, the petitioner filed the contempt case.
Taking a serious exception to the absence of the HYDRAA Commissioner on November 27 despite being issued Form-I notice, the Division Bench dismissed the officer’s application for exemption from personal appearance. The bench also cautioned that it would be compelled to issue non-bailable warrant if he failed to appear on Friday.
In this backdrop, the HYDRAA Commissioner presented himself before the bench on Friday. There was no deliberate intention not to appear before the HC during the previous hearing, the officer submitted to the bench. There was an inundation at Bachupally area on November 26. There were complaints of illegal occupation of lands resulting in flooding of the area, the officer explained.
“I had to rush to the area on November 27 as one woman died of inhaling toxic fumes,” the HYDRAA Commissioner explained, stating that was the reason for his failure to turn before the bench on that day. “It was not out of any disrespect or any disregard to the court’s order,” he said.
“That is alright. Apology accepted,” Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya said, asking the officer to take seat in the court hall. The HYDRAA counsel and the counsel for the appellant presented their contentions about the changes made at Bathukammakunta. The matter was adjourned to December 18 for next hearing. The bench also dispensed with the appearance of the officer on next date.
Published – December 05, 2025 07:21 pm IST
