Telangana HC Pulls Up State Info Commission for Violating Natural Justice Principles
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court set aside the decision of the Telangana Information Commission (TGIC) refusing on compassionate grounds to inform the applicant about the status of the appointment offer. The court held that the TGIC decision was made in violation of the principles of natural justice.
Justice Surepalli Nanda was hearing a writ petition filed by Boddupalli Shankaraiah, challenging the closure of his complaint under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The petitioner had sought information on the status of the compassionate appointment proposal submitted in 2008. He appealed to the TGIC under Article 18(1) of the Act, claiming inaction by the relevant public authority.
The Commission closed the complaint on the grounds that the requested information was provided. It was also noted that the plaintiff was not present at the hearing.
Before the Supreme Court, it was revealed that the notification dated 19 August 2025, which stipulated that the applicant would appear at the hearing on 29 August, only reached him on 3 September 2025, after the hearing took place.
Taking note of this procedural error, Justice Surepally Nanda observed that the petitioner was not given a reasonable opportunity of hearing. The court held that due to the delay in notification, issuing an order without ensuring the presence of the petitioner amounted to violation of the principles of natural justice. He further observed that such an order passed “behind” the plaintiff was arbitrary and unsustainable in law.
HC Withdraws HYDRAA: Orders Retrieval of Items from Ameenpur Demolition Debris, Sets Limits for Future Actions
hyderabad: Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Monday directed the Ameenpur collector and the concerned deputy commissioner of police to cooperate in recovering valuables from the debris in Sangareddy area, Ailapur, where HYDRAA carried out the demolitions.
The judge had earlier directed that HYDRAA should not carry out demolition in Hyderabad and municipal areas except for removal of encroachments on river beds, nalas and public roads and had clarified that no action would be taken in relation to internal road disputes or removal of compound walls unless a standard operating procedure or legal guidelines are put on record.
The directions were issued in a writ plea filed by MA Shareef, a 98-year-old agriculturist from Ameenpur mandal, Ailapur, who alleged that the authorities, accompanied by police personnel, entered his land around 4.30 am on Saturday morning and demolished a two-storey house, a century-old ancestral house, water tank, boundary walls, compound walls and animal sheds, besides removing CCTV cameras and DVR system.
Senior advocate L. Ravichander, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the demolition was done in a hurry in the early hours and valuable household items, including electronics, remained inside the building and are now buried under the debris, hence urgent steps need to be taken to recover them. He stated that the petitioner and his family were not given a reasonable opportunity to remove their belongings before the structures were razed, resulting in avoidable loss and distress.
