The Telangana High Court division bench of Justice T. Vinod Kumar and Justice P. Sree Sudha recently directed its Registrar (Judicial-I) to lodge a police complaint over suspected forged court orders that have surfaced in an ongoing civil dispute concerning land in Shamshabad village. Among the fabricated documents is an order purportedly issued 37 years ago, which has been cited in current legal proceedings.

The matter came up in Civil Miscellaneous Appeal, filed by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and others challenging a trial court decision.

The controversy surrounds two court orders—one order dated 29th April, 1988, in Application No. 533 of 1988 related to Civil Suit No. 7 of 1958, and another connected to Writ Petition No. 28734 of 1996. Both were flagged as potentially fabricated during a previous hearing.

Acting on its initial suspicions, the High Court had tasked the Registrar (Judicial-I) to verify the authenticity of the disputed orders and submit a sealed report.

Upon going through the sealed report, the bench observed that “Hon’ble Sri Justice N.D. Padnaik having been elevated to Bench only on 28.12.1988, the order in Application No.533 of 1988 could not have been passed on 29.04.1988. So also the Court noted that the Writ Petition vide W.P. No.28734 of 1996 was not registered on the file of this Court. Noting the contents of the report, this Court had directed the Registrar (Judicial-I) to furnish copies of the aforesaid report to the Counsel appearing on either side for offering their objections.”

Moreover, regarding the alleged 1996 writ petition, the bench noted that, “Further, from the record available with the High Court, the Writ Petition No.28734 of 1996 was also not registered in the year 1996 and thus no orders could not have been passed therein also.”

The bench confirmed that both orders were indeed fabricated, “Thus, the orders as noted above have been fabricated.”

Acknowledging the seriousness of the matter, the Court directed the Registrar to file a police complaint, terming the act a fraud on the Court and a serious interference with the administration of justice.

Taking note of two similar complaints already registered in 2024 at the Charminar police station, the Court also ordered the State Government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to comprehensively investigate the current matter alongside the previous cases.

In addition, the bench emphasized the need to prevent further misuse of these fabricated orders. The Registrar has been instructed to obtain necessary approval from the Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice for issuing a cautionary circular.

“Since, this Court has now prima facie found the aforesaid orders to be fabricated orders, it is also made clear that the Registrar (Judicial-I) should be directed to obtain orders from the Hon’ble the Acting Chief Justice to issue necessary circular to all the officers concerned not to act on the said orders, if relied upon in any collateral proceedings before any Court/forum, including displaying the same on the High Court website for information of general public.” the bench stated.

Considering the findings, the Court ordered that the previously granted status quo in the appeal be maintained, while granting liberty to both parties to seek an early hearing depending on the progress of the investigation.

“Since, this Court has now directed the

Registrar (Judicial-I) to lodge a complaint with regard to the above mentioned orders which form part of the impugned orders in the present CMA, this Court is of the view that the order of status quo granted earlier is to be continued till further orders. However, liberty is granted to both the appellants as well as the respondent to make a mention before this Court for listing of the CMAs based on the progress of investigation.” the court stated.

Case Details: Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority & ors. vs. Mohammad Taher Khan., CMA NO. 76 of 2025