The Supreme Court on Thursday imposed an interim stay on the felling of trees in the 400-acre Kancha Gachibowli forest area near the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district.
The order came in response to concerns over large-scale deforestation in the region, which has drawn significant public and legal scrutiny.
A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih directed the registrar (judicial) of the Telangana High Court to conduct an on-site inspection and submit a report to the Supreme Court by 3:30 pm on Thursday.
The bench further scheduled a follow-up hearing at 3:45 pm to review the matter. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the court referred to media reports that depicted extensive deforestation in Kancha Gachibowli, suggesting that authorities took advantage of a long weekend to accelerate tree-cutting operations.
The reports also indicated that the forest area is home to eight types of scheduled animal species, raising concerns over its ecological impact. The court directed the registrar (judicial) of the Supreme Court to immediately communicate the order to the Telangana High Court’s registrar (judicial) for immediate action.
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The intervention by the Supreme Court followed a plea raised by Senior Advocate K Parameshwar, who is also the amicus curiae in ongoing forest-related cases. He brought the matter to the bench’s attention, emphasising the environmental significance of the issue.
Representing the Telangana state government, Senior Advocate A M Singhvi informed the court that the matter was already under consideration by the Telangana High Court. In response, the Supreme Court clarified that its order did not interfere with the high court’s ongoing proceedings but was meant to prevent further environmental damage.
The Telangana High Court had already issued an order on Wednesday directing the state government to immediately halt the clearing of the 400-acre green cover near UoH until the next scheduled hearing.
The controversy arose after reports surfaced that large-scale tree felling had begun on Sunday, March 30, leading to widespread protests by students and environmental activists. Protesters accused the government of prioritising land auctions over environmental conservation and demanded an immediate withdrawal of any plans to clear the forest.
They argued that development should not come at the cost of environmental destruction, urging the authorities to reconsider their decision.
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