Hyderabad: In a significant development, the Telangana High Court has restrained the state government from initiating any action against senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal based on the findings of the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission, which had flagged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.
A division bench, led by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, passed the interim order while hearing Sabharwal’s plea seeking to nullify the commission’s adverse observations. The court also decided to consolidate her petition with similar pending cases.
Sabharwal, who previously held the position of Special Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office under the BRS regime, was among the officials implicated by the Commission’s report. She argued that the report contained “serious and adverse remarks” made without observing mandatory procedural safeguards under Sections 8-B and 8-C of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, which mandate prior notice and a fair hearing.
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The IAS officer further maintained she had no role in decision-making over the three barrages in question and was not involved in granting approvals. Contradicting this, the Commission report (submitted July 31) claimed she had played an active role — citing her site visits, field inspections, feedback to then Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, and involvement in administrative clearances.
Beyond those assertions, the Commission recommended formal action against her for alleged violations in sanctioning works for Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages under the previous BRS government.
Sabharwal condemned the findings as “arbitrary, prejudicial, and violative of natural justice,” and urged the court to expunge the portions of the commission report implicating her.
Earlier this year in April, she was transferred and posted as Member Secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission. Before that, she had served as Special Chief Secretary for Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture (YAT&C) and Director, Archaeology. Her transfer followed a social media controversy wherein she reposted an AI-generated image related to tree felling near Hyderabad Central University, prompting a police summon by Cyberabad authorities.