In a significant development involving the Telangana bureaucracy, the Telangana High Court has issued contempt of court notices to 1992 batch senior IAS officer Jayesh Ranjan in connection with a legal challenge to the state government’s new advertising policy for 2026. The matter has drawn attention as it concerns alleged non-compliance with earlier court directions related to outdoor advertising regulations and consultation with stakeholders.
Justice N. V. Shravan Kumar on Tuesday directed the senior officer to appear before the court either personally or through legal counsel on April 9 and explain the government’s stand in the case.
Contempt Petition Filed by Outdoor Media Association
The contempt petition has been filed by M/s Telangana Outdoor Media Owners Association along with three other petitioners, alleging that the state government wilfully disobeyed earlier directions issued by the High Court in a writ petition concerning the advertising policy.
According to the petitioners, the court had earlier instructed the concerned authority to examine the representations submitted by outdoor media stakeholders and ensure they were given a fair hearing before finalising any policy decision affecting the sector.
Allegation of Ignoring Stakeholder Representations
The petitioners have alleged that despite clear judicial directions, the government finalised the 2026 advertising policy without adequately considering several critical suggestions placed by the outdoor media industry.
Among the key issues raised was the demand for allowing advertising hoardings on private buildings, which forms a major source of business for outdoor advertising operators. The association claims that these concerns were not properly examined before the policy was notified.
Jayesh Ranjan’s Role in the Matter
Jayesh Ranjan, a 1992-batch IAS officer, is currently serving as Special Chief Secretary for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications in the Telangana government. As a senior administrative officer handling key governance functions, he has now been asked to clarify the official position before the court in relation to the implementation of the advertising framework.
The contempt notice places administrative accountability under judicial scrutiny, especially because the petition directly alleges that earlier High Court instructions were not complied with in letter and spirit.
Livelihood Concerns Raised by Industry
The Telangana Outdoor Media Owners Association has argued that the policy has far-reaching consequences for thousands of people associated with the outdoor advertising ecosystem.
According to the petition, the restrictions and omissions in the new framework affect not only media owners but also workers involved in hoarding installation, printing, fabrication, maintenance, and related advertising services.
The association has claimed that lakhs of livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on outdoor media activities, and sudden policy decisions without industry consultation could have serious economic consequences.
Court to Hear Government’s Stand on April 9
The matter is now expected to come up for further hearing on April 9, when the government’s response will be placed before the court.
The case could have wider implications for how future urban advertising regulations are framed in Telangana, particularly on balancing city regulation, commercial interests, and judicial compliance.
Policy Under Wider Scrutiny
The 2026 advertising policy is being closely watched by industry players because it is expected to define future permissions, restrictions, and operational norms for outdoor publicity across urban areas in Telangana, especially in major cities such as Hyderabad.
With contempt proceedings now initiated, the legal scrutiny over the policy is likely to intensify in the coming days.
About Him
Jayesh Ranjan is a distinguished 1992-batch IAS officer currently serving as the Special Chief Secretary for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) in the Government of Telangana. Widely recognized as the all-India topper of his batch, he is a highly academic officer with degrees from IIM Calcutta and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He is best known for his nearly decade-long tenure as the head of Telangana’s IT and Industries departments, where he played a pivotal role in establishing T-Hub and positioning Hyderabad as a global technology hub. As of early 2026, he manages critical urban infrastructure as the Special Officer for the reorganized GHMC, Cyberabad, and Malkajgiri corporations, and is currently considered a top contender for the position of Chief Secretary of Telangana.
