Hyderabad, April 22, 2026 — The Telangana High Court has declared the findings of the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission, which investigated alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), as "inoperative." Consequently, the court has barred any action against former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and three others, including former minister T. Harish Rao, based on this report.
The court's ruling stems from a procedural violation: the commission failed to adhere to the principles of natural justice, specifically Section 8B of the Commission of Inquiry Act, before making adverse remarks against the petitioners. This procedural lapse rendered the commission's conclusions "prejudicial to the conduct and reputation of the petitioners."
Commission's Report Nullified
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin, pronounced the verdict, stating unequivocally that "no action can be taken" against the named individuals. The report, which had previously held K. Chandrasekhar Rao accountable for alleged irregularities and faulted T. Harish Rao and some officials for their roles in the project's construction, has thus been set aside.
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The petitions challenging the report were filed by K. Chandrasekhar Rao and T. Harish Rao last year, expressing concern that the state government might use the adverse findings as a basis for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. The state government had indeed referred the commission's report to the CBI following a debate in the Assembly.
Background: The Ghose Commission and Kaleshwaram Project
The Justice P.C. Ghose Commission was constituted to inquire into alleged irregularities in the planning, design, and execution of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, focusing on key barrages like Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla. The project itself is a significant irrigation initiative situated on the Godavari River.
Previously, the high court had granted interim protection to the petitioners, restraining the state government from taking any action based on the Ghose Commission report until a final decision was reached. The constitution of the commission itself was not found to be arbitrary or illegal by the court.
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The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) cadre has welcomed the High Court's decision, with some leaders terming it a "slap in the face" of the current government and referring to the report as a "conspiracy."
