Hyderabad, Sept. 1 -- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has summoned Telangana's Chief Secretary to appear before it in person over the state's handling of fluoride contamination in groundwater, after repeated directions for a detailed report went unanswered.

In an order dated Monday, August 31, the NHRC issued conditional summons requiring the Chief Secretary to appear on September 29. The appearance will be dispensed with if the required additional report is filed on or before September 22.

The case stems from a complaint filed on January 1, 2025, by Hyderabad-based advocate Yennam Balachander Reddy, who cited the Centre's Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2024 and a news report to argue that fluoride levels in Telangana's ...