The Telangana High Court has restrained the Telangana government from taking coercive action against Madhavarapu Hanmantha Rao, the father-in-law of BRS MLA T Harish Rao, or dispossessing him from 3.22 acres in Velikatta village of Siddipet district until his petition is decided.
Justice N V Shravan Kumar issued the interim direction on Monday while hearing Hanmantha Rao’s challenge to a show-cause notice issued by revenue authorities on September 29, 2026. The notice proposed resuming the land, according to the report filed before the court.
The court also directed Hanmantha Rao to submit his explanation to the notice within two weeks. The revenue authorities have been asked to file their counters in the case. The matter will be listed after the Dasara vacation.
The dispute places the revenue administration’s power to resume land against the requirement to provide the affected landholder an opportunity to explain his position. Hanmantha Rao’s petition contests the proposed resumption and seeks protection from coercive action while the matter is examined by the court.
Senior counsel J Ramachander Rao, appearing for Hanmantha Rao, argued that the authorities had issued the notice with a predetermined decision to resume the land without giving his client an opportunity to present his case. He also submitted that Hanmantha Rao had purchased the land long ago after paying the required market price.
The government opposed the plea through its revenue law officer but assured the court that no action would be taken until Hanmantha Rao submitted his explanation. The government also stated that the response would be considered and disposed of within the time granted by the court.
The interim order does not decide the ownership dispute or determine whether the proposed resumption is legally valid. It temporarily prevents dispossession and other coercive steps while the petitioner responds to the notice and the authorities file their replies.
The case will next move through the written-response stage, with Hanmantha Rao required to submit his explanation within two weeks. The authorities are expected to place their counter before the court when the matter is taken up after the Dasara vacation.
