HYDRAA row: Revanth Reddy backs agency after HC orders commissioner's removal
Synopsis
The Telangana High Court has ordered the replacement of HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath — citing 63 pending contempt cases — but Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is pushing back, calling HYDRAA his government's greatest reform. The standoff between a flagship anti-encroachment agency and the judiciary puts Telangana's urban governance model squarely in the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy declared the government stands firmly behind HYDRAA on 29 July 2025 .
The Telangana High Court directed Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju to replace HYDRAA Commissioner A.V.
Ranganath , citing 63 pending contempt cases .
The contempt proceedings stem from a dispute over a 40-acre plot at Lothkunta , where HYDRAA allegedly acted despite judicial restraint orders.
HYDRAA claims to have recovered 3,315 acres of government land worth ₹1.5 lakh crore in its two-year existence.
Revanth Reddy alleged encroachers filed 'false cases' and used 'fake documents' to mislead the court.
The government said it will review the court order; the Chief Secretary's next step on the replacement is awaited.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday, 29 July 2025, declared that the state government stands firmly behind the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), a day after the Telangana High Court directed the Chief Secretary to immediately replace HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath for repeatedly flouting court orders. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, the Chief Minister said he had not yet examined the court order in detail but affirmed the government would review it.
Chief Minister's Stand
Revanth Reddy described HYDRAA as the 'greatest reform' of his government and made clear that the agency would be strengthened further, not wound down. He stated that the government holds the judiciary in the highest regard, even as it prepares to study the court's direction carefully.
The Chief Minister alleged that certain individuals were running 'false propaganda' against HYDRAA, and accused encroachers of filing fabricated cases and submitting forged documents to mislead the court. He reiterated that HYDRAA would continue its core mandate of removing encroachments on water bodies and government lands.
What the High Court Ordered
On Monday, 28 July 2025, the Telangana High Court's single-judge bench directed Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju to identify a suitable officer to replace Ranganath as head of HYDRAA. The direction came in a contempt case linked to a 40-acre parcel of land at Lothkunta, where a private construction company alleged that HYDRAA officials entered and fenced the property despite subsisting judicial restraint orders.
The bench noted that as many as 63 contempt cases were reportedly pending against the HYDRAA Commissioner during his one-and-a-half-year tenure. The court had earlier ordered Ranganath to tender a written apology by affidavit — a deadline he was required to meet by Monday.
HYDRAA's Track Record Under Scrutiny
Ranganath, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, has headed HYDRAA since its formation roughly two years ago. Following the court order, he publicly listed the agency's achievements, asserting that the contempt petitions were filed against him by 'land grabbers.'
According to the agency's own claims, HYDRAA has saved 3,315 acres of government land valued at ₹1.5 lakh crore and restored several water bodies, lakes, nalas, parks, and blue-green resources over the past two years. These figures have not been independently verified.
The Broader Context
The confrontation between HYDRAA and the judiciary reflects a recurring tension in urban land governance across Indian cities, where anti-encroachment drives — however well-intentioned — have repeatedly run into due-process challenges. Notably, this is not the first time a state agency's aggressive land-reclamation approach has drawn contempt proceedings; similar patterns have emerged in other metro jurisdictions.
With the High Court's directive now on record, the Telangana government faces a delicate balancing act: defending a flagship reform while demonstrating respect for judicial authority. The Chief Secretary's next move on the replacement question will be closely watched.
Point of View
Not isolated missteps. Revanth Reddy's public defence of HYDRAA in New Delhi, before even reading the order, looks less like statecraft and more like political signalling to his core constituency. The real question mainstream coverage is missing: if HYDRAA's land-reclamation numbers are as impressive as claimed — 3,315 acres, ₹1.5 lakh crore — why has the agency not built a legal compliance framework robust enough to avoid contempt proceedings in the first place? Winning on the ground while losing in court is not a sustainable model for urban reform.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Telangana High Court order the removal of HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath?
The Telangana High Court directed Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju to replace Ranganath after noting that 63 contempt cases were reportedly pending against him during his one-and-a-half-year tenure. The immediate trigger was a contempt case involving a 40-acre plot at Lothkunta, where HYDRAA officials allegedly entered and fenced private property despite active judicial restraint orders.
What is HYDRAA and what does it do?
HYDRAA — the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency — is a Telangana government body formed roughly two years ago to remove encroachments on water bodies and government lands in and around Hyderabad. The agency claims to have recovered 3,315 acres of government land valued at ₹1.5 lakh crore and restored lakes, nalas, and parks.
What did Chief Minister Revanth Reddy say about the High Court order?
Revanth Reddy, speaking in New Delhi, said he had not yet examined the order in detail but that the government would review it. He reaffirmed that HYDRAA is his government's 'greatest reform' and would be strengthened further, while also asserting the government's highest respect for the judiciary.
Who is HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath?
A.V. Ranganath is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who has headed HYDRAA since the agency's formation approximately two years ago. Following the High Court's order, he publicly outlined the agency's achievements and stated that the contempt petitions were filed against him by land grabbers.
What happens next in the HYDRAA-High Court standoff?
Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju is expected to identify a replacement officer for Ranganath as directed by the High Court. The Telangana government has said it will study the court order before deciding its next legal steps, making the Chief Secretary's response the immediate development to watch.
