Telangana High Court issues contempt notices to officials

The Telangana High Court has issued contempt notices to HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath and other officials over M.A. Shareef’s allegation that they demolished structures on his Ailapur land in breach of an interim court order. Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy directed the officials to appear personally in December. The notices mark a preliminary step, not a final finding of contempt.

The petition concerns a farmhouse and other structures on 36.37 acres in Ailapur, Ameenpur mandal, Sangareddy district. Shareef alleges that revenue and HYDRAA officials entered the property and demolished the structures on April 11, 2026, despite judicial protection. He says he owns the land and has submitted registered sale deeds and pattadar passbooks in support of his claim.

The judge said there was a prima facie case that the officials had failed to comply with the court’s directions. Shareef’s counsel, Deepak Misra, argued that the demolition amounted to wilful disobedience of the High Court’s order and also referred to Supreme Court directions. Those allegations have not been finally adjudicated in the contempt case.

The notices name senior officials including Municipal Administration and Urban...