Telangana HC Lashes Out At HYDRAA For Poking Nose into Private Property

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court lashed out at HYDRAA for allegedly entering a private property despite earlier court orders protecting the landowner's possession. The court remarked that such violative conduct by the HYDRAA made it apparent that the offices of the agency were of the notion that they were a class apart.

“I am afraid they are not so and they can’t be, they are a part of governance and remain so. They are not super cops of governance (in their field), they cannot act beyond the purview of law,” Justice Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti remarked.

The judge was disposing of contempt cases filed by Shanta Sriram Constructions Private Limited, filed against HYDRAA for interfering with their possession of land in Survey No.s 1 and 2 of Lothkunta in Medchal-Malkajgiri district , despite an earlier undertaking given before the court by government authorities that they would not do so.

HYDRAA interfered in the land on the basis of a letter addressed by an organisation, Society to Save Rocks, and argued before the court that it was not part of the earlier proceedings and petitions on this land. This defence infuriated the court.

Justice Jukanti reminded that the genesis of HYDRAA was from government orders, which carved out the agency out from under the GHMC. “Hence, its acts cannot travel beyond the periphery/ boundary. Merely because HYDRAA is not a party to the writ petition earlier, it does not in any way entitle them to poke their noses into the private property,” the judge noted.

The court observed that HYDRAA officers may be enthusiastic to undertake or perform acts in the interest of the state, but such acts have to be within the four corners of law. Any deviation from law would not only be an over-reach, but would also invite the wrath of the court. Justice Jukanti said that any violation would directly point a finger to the authorities that it was an act which could not be condoned.

NGT Refuses to Stall Telangana’s Future City Project; Says Planned Development Can’t Be Blocked Without Grounds

Hyderabad: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) at Chennai on Tuesday indicated that it was not inclined to intervene in the Telangana government's Future City project at its preliminary stage, refusing to grant interim relief sought against the proposed development and observing that planned development initiatives should not be obstructed without sufficient grounds.

Hearing a petition filed by Dr Donthi Narasimha Reddy, environmentalist, alleging that the development activities for the proposed Future City were being undertaken without obtaining environmental clearance, the bench comprising Judicial Member Justice Pushpa Satyanarayana and Expert Member Dr Prashant Gargava declined to pass interim orders and adjourned the matter to July 14 after directing the state government to file its response to the objections.

Additional advocate-general Tera Rajinikanth Reddy, representing the state government, contended that the application was premature as the project was still in its formative stage and no development activity requiring environmental clearance had commenced. He argued that the state government could not be compelled to secure environmental clearance for a project that had not yet materialised and assured the tribunal that all statutory requirements would be complied with whenever necessary.

Noting the government`s contention, the bench observed that when the government itself proposes to undertake development through a structured and planned approach backed by a vision document, judicial intervention at the initial stage may not be warranted. The tribunal remarked that allegations regarding absence of environmental clearance could not be a basis to halt a project that was still evolving and being pursued through an organised framework.

Comparing with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, the Bench noted that planned urban expansion was routinely undertaken through statutory development authorities. It observed that the proposed Future City Development Authority was similarly envisaged to oversee regulated and planned development.

The tribunal also questioned the petitioner about the need for interim intervention when the state had assured it that all activities would be carried out strictly in accordance with law.

HC Suspends Order Placing Former Judge’s Shamshabad Land on Prohibited List

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court gave interim relief to former judge Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili (retd) and his elder brother, Ashok Kumar Shavili, suspending the revenue authorities' proceedings that had placed their 3.26-acre land in Shamshabad on the prohibited list. The case brought into focus recurring complaints over alleged errors in revenue records, which landowners contend require prolonged representations and legal battles for years before corrective action is taken.

Justice Pulla Karthik issued interim suspension orders on Tuesday on the proceedings of the Rangareddy district administration, while hearing the petition of Justice Shavili (retd) and his brother seeking directions to district revenue and registration and stamps department to remove their land from the prohibited list.

The judge also directed authorities concerned including the stamps and registrations department to file counters in the matter and adjourned the case to June 30 for further hearing.

Counsel for the petitioners argued that the proceedings of the district administration were done without even issuing a notice to the petitioners or giving them an opportunity of hearing. He sought immediate relief as the officials did not follow the procedure.

The former judge and his family purchased the land in the 1980s and claimed that local revenue authorities had issued passbooks in their name, indicating that they were the legal owners of the land. However, in November 2025, authorities issued proceedings notifying the land parcel as prohibited land under the Telangana Registrations Act.