Hyderabad: Telangana high court on Tuesday expressed its strong resentment over Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) chief AV Ranganath not appearing before it in a contempt case, despite the court directing him to appear in person and explain why no action should be taken against him for contempt.Though the court exempted him from personal appearance in future hearings, it remarked that the affidavit filed by him in the contempt matter was in a casual manner and opined that a better affidavit needs to be filed. “ Such hurried actions (fencing lands and erecting boards showing the lands as Government lands) and disregard to court orders (carrying out demolitions even in matters subjudice) will only affect his career. Tell your officer,” Justice NV Shravan Kumar told the HYDRAA counsel.The judge made the observations while hearing the contempt petition filed for allegedly violating court orders and not removing a fence from a land at Suraram.On May 6, the court, while issuing contempt notices to Ranganath, directed him to appear on June 9 at 10.30am, saying, “ Herein fail not ( do not fail to do this).” However, when he did not appear before the court on Tuesday when the court began proceedings, it took a stern view of the absence and also no affidavit filed on his absence and posted the matter to the afternoon session.During the afternoon session, the official filed an affidavit informing the court about compliance of orders and sought exemption from appearance. After going through the affidavit, the court pointed out that the affidavit did not show any regret for not complying with the court orders in the given time and it seems to have been filed in a casual manner.“ We are taking note of all these aspects. You have to follow the procedure as per the contempt of court rules. This is the first and last time the court is accepting this. Do not assume you have done a favour to the court by filing an affidavit,” the judge said.“What is the point in erecting boards and troubling citizens? Nobody is running away. Petitioners are there, lands are there,” the judge asked.The judge then closed the contempt case, directed an affidavit, detailing every aspect and steps with regard to compliance with court orders, be filed in a week and adjourned the matter for further hearing.
