The Telangana High Court has strongly criticized HYDRAA Commissioner Ranganath for conducting property demolitions without following legal procedures. During a hearing on Monday regarding a petition from affected parties, Ranganath appeared virtually to explain the demolitions.

The court expressed frustration over the timing of the demolitions, questioning why they took place on a Sunday. Judges demanded to know if Ranganath was acting based on media reports rather than legal guidelines. The bench pointedly criticized him for proceeding with demolitions without issuing proper notices and insisted on a legal justification for the actions taken.

“Why are you serving notices on holidays and demolishing structures in emergency conditions? How can officials disregard previous court orders prohibiting demolitions on Sundays?” the court asked, directing the question towards the Ameenpur mandal Tahsildar. The court warned that failure to comply with the law would lead to necessary consequences for the official.

“You are violating the law with these demolitions,” the judges asserted. They posed a hypothetical question, asking if Ranganath would demolish the Charminar if instructed, emphasizing the need for focused accountability on Ameenpur, not other locations.

The High Court also sought clarification on the extent of the lake and its Full Tank Levels (FTLs), expressing concern over the implications of the demolitions. Officials were reprimanded for their ‘ad hoc’ approach and were issued strict warnings to adhere to legal standards in the future.