Hyderabad: Hyderabad: Taking a serious note of HYDRAA demolishing a compound wall belonging to Vani Cooperative Housing Society near RK Puram, without any instructions from the Medchal-Malkajgiri collector and without following due process, Telangana high court on Wednesday said that the agency acted in violation of court orders in the matter and issued a suo motu contempt notice to its chief AV Ranganath.Justice NV Sharavan Kumar, who heard the matter, directed the collector, who was present in the court, to file a detailed report on the unauthorised demolitions carried out by HYDRAA in the district. The judge further directed the registry to communicate the order to the state govt, directing the govt to to immediately instruct all district collectors under HYDRAA’s jurisdiction to keep the agency informed of existing court orders. The court emphasised that all collectors must ensure HYDRAA strictly complies with these directives so that no future actions or demolitions violate court orders.The collector, along with tahsildars of Malkajgiri and Trimulgherry mandals, appeared before the court as per earlier directions and informed that they had not issued any instructions to HYDRAA to demolish any wall or fence the site, whereas HYDRAA had earlier claimed the demolition was carried out on the instructions from revenue authorities.When the judge asked the collector if he had issued any instructions to HYDRAA, the collector said, “No specific instructions to fence the land or demolish any structure were given.” “Because of your actions, these officers are here. What explanation do you have for the collector?” the court asked the HYDRAA counsel.The HYDRAA counsel responded that they had been asked to protect govt land parcels in the area from encroachments. Taking note of this, the judge told the collector, “Every time HYDRAA says they act on (your) instructions, the collector says he did not give any instructions. Why did you (HYDRAA) go there? Why are you dragging them (Collector)? Who assisted you? On what basis? Were there any private surveyors? You do not even file counters.”Further responding to a query from the judge, the collector informed that HYDRAA had demolished around 40 unauthorised structures under his jurisdiction.Taking note of this, the judge said that the HYDRAA violated court orders and did not obtain any instructions from the concerned revenue officials before carrying out such activity. “He (HYDRAA chief) has, on his own, demolished the compound wall without any proper communication and on his own authority,” the judge said and directed the registry to issue a suo motu contempt notice to the HYDRAA chief, and further directed the district collector and other official respondents to file their counters.Further, when the HYDRAA counsel offered an apology, the judge asked, “How many times will you apologise? Are you not aware of court orders? You have only one piece of paper to justify your action. Nothing else. This is nothing but taking the law into your hands.” “Not in one case?” the judge remarked and adjourned the case to be posted along with all connected matters after four weeks.
