Telangana CM Supports Executive Authority Amid Court Ruling
On Tuesday, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy affirmed the government’s power to appoint officials, including the commissioner of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA). This statement came in light of a state high court ruling that ordered the removal of senior IPS officer A. V. Ranganath due to alleged contempt of court.
Reddy expressed confidence in the government’s understanding of HYDRAA’s operations, stating that they would review the court’s decision before taking any further steps. “The government can appoint anyone to any position, and we will carefully consider the high court’s ruling,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
He strongly defended HYDRAA’s work and emphasized the government’s dedication to bolstering the agency, despite the court’s ruling against Ranganath. Reddy accused land grabbers of misleading the judiciary by using fake documents and spreading false information about HYDRAA.
“HYDRAA is one of our significant reforms, and we will continue to strengthen it. Its work will proceed without any interruptions,” he stated.
The chief minister mentioned that HYDRAA was established to safeguard public properties such as lakes and ponds from illegal encroachments. He defended the agency’s actions, particularly during recent demolition operations, including those at Bathukamma Kunta, where he alleged a senior leader from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) encroached on 10 acres.
Additionally, he addressed criticisms regarding demolition efforts at structures built on encroached land, pointing to the N-Convention building and constructions on Gandipet Lake. Reddy argued that these actions were not targeting the poor, questioning if the N-Convention was indeed owned by underprivileged individuals.
He further claimed that individuals with vested interests were financially supporting campaigns against HYDRAA through social media, aiming to protect encroachers. Reddy pledged to contest any fictitious legal claims in court, vowing that the government would relentlessly support HYDRAA’s initiatives.
The chief minister also mentioned former chief secretary Somesh Kumar, noting that over 400 contempt of court cases had been filed against him, hinting that such legal challenges were not uncommon.
These remarks followed the high court’s critical observations regarding A. V. Ranganath’s conduct during a hearing on the Lothkunta land dispute. The court decided that his removal was necessary, stating that ignoring judicial orders was inappropriate for someone in such a senior position, and that a competent replacement should be appointed to maintain respect for the law.
