Telangana High Court orders removal of HYDRAA chief over 63 contempt cases

The Telangana High Court on Monday directed the state's Chief Secretary to relieve IPS officer A V Ranganath from his position as the head of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) and appoint a suitable replacement. The order followed the court's dissatisfaction with the officer's apology in a contempt matter.

Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti, while passing the order, observed that it was not appropriate for a senior official to face as many as 63 contempt cases. The court instructed the state government to ensure compliance and appoint a new officer to head the agency.

The order came amid a long-drawn standoff between the court and the agency. HYDRAA, established to handle disaster response and protect public assets, has been at the centre of several legal disputes. The court's decision underscores its concern over the agency's compliance with judicial directives.

Further details on the timeline for the appointment of the new chief are awaited.