BJP, BRS Hail High Court Verdict on HYDRAA Commissioner

The Telangana High Court's order directing the replacement of HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath has sparked a fresh political confrontation in the state, with the BJP and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) welcoming the verdict as a rebuke to the Congress government, while the ruling party defended the agency's anti-encroachment drive. The court's directive, issued in a contempt of court case, has once again brought the functioning of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) under intense public and political scrutiny.

Welcoming the judgment, Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao said the High Court's decision was a "slap in the face" for the Congress government. He alleged that HYDRAA had created fear among citizens under the guise of removing illegal constructions and claimed that its demolition drives had disproportionately affected poor families and small farmers. Reiterating the BJP's long-standing position, he demanded that the agency be abolished, asserting that the court's observations had vindicated the party's stand.

BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan also hailed the verdict but argued that accountability should not end with the Commissioner alone. Referring to earlier statements made by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, he said A.V. Ranganath, as an IPS officer, had merely implemented government policy. He questioned whether the Chief Secretary would immediately comply with the High Court's order or whether the state government would challenge the ruling before the Supreme Court, describing the administration's approach as a " bulldozer policy."

The Congress, however, firmly backed HYDRAA's functioning. Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy said the agency had protected government assets worth nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore by removing encroachments from lakes, canals, roads and public lands across Hyderabad. He alleged that real estate mafias had occupied government land for decades, damaging the city's water bodies and urban infrastructure. He also praised A.V. Ranganath for acting without political pressure and responding to public complaints within 24 hours.

Constituted in July 2024, HYDRAA was established to coordinate urban disaster response, reclaim government land, restore lakes and nalas, and tackle encroachments that contribute to flooding in Hyderabad. While environmental groups have welcomed several of its reclamation efforts, the agency has also faced criticism over demolition drives, allegations of selective enforcement, and multiple legal challenges.

The latest controversy arose after the Telangana High Court rejected the apology submitted by A.V. Ranganath in the contempt proceedings and directed the Chief Secretary to appoint a suitable replacement at the earliest. The court's observations have transformed what began as a legal dispute into a politically charged issue.