Hyderabad: The Supreme Court , on Tuesday, dismissed a petition filed by the Telangana govt challenging the ownership of a prime 40-acre land parcel in Lothkunta, after the state failed to satisfactorily explain a 219-day delay in approaching the apex court.
The high court in Oct 2025 had ruled that the disputed land belongs to the construction firm. The state govt has filed an appeal in Aug 2026 challenging this order. During the hearing, counsel for Telangana govt raised objections regarding the strict application of the limitation period and stressed that the state should not suffer due to mistakes made by certain officers.
Rejecting these arguments, the Supreme Court bench questioned whether the state would also “take action against the constitutional authority (responsible for the delay in approaching the apex court)”. The state’s petition challenged a previous Telangana high court judgement issued in favour of Shantha Sriram Constructions. Taking strong exception, the bench pointed to a six-month delay and questioned why the constitutional authority failed to tender advice immediately after the high court order, taking several months instead.
That order was suspended by a division bench of the high court in a contempt appeal on Sept 2 with specific directions to the agency to refrain from entering the disputed site. The contempt appeal has been posted to Nov 3 for a final hearing.
Following the Supreme Court order, the HYDRAA chief said that he will discuss the matter “with all stakeholders, state govt, legal experts and decide about the future course of action”. In connection with a contempt case pertaining to the same land, a single judge of the high court had in July directed the removal of HYDRAA commissioner, A V Ranganath, for violating court orders and fencing the disputed land.