Hyderabad, July 24 -- The Telangana High Court on Friday, July 24, came down heavily on Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), saying that Commissioner Ranganath has become a "law unto himself" and criticised other departments for approaching him instead of taking action themselves.

Justice Anil Jukanti made the observation while delivering orders on three contempt cases filed against HYDRAA by Shanta Sriram Constructions. Referring to a counter affidavit filed by the HYDRAA Commissioner, the judge said that a counter affidavit cannot be filed in a contempt case, as officials entering a disputed property and carrying out demolitions was already wilful disobedience of the court's earlier orders.

He instead dire...