SC Halts Tree Felling Near Hyderabad University Till Next Hearing, Asks To Restore The Forest

The Supreme Court on Wednesday intervened in the tree felling case in Kancha Gachibowli near the University of Hyderabad, videos of which went viral with audible cries of displaced animals. The court said that all sorts of developmental activities be stopped till the next hearing scheduled on May 15, adding that there cannot be “high-rises in the company of deer.”

The bench said, “we direct the Wildlife Warden of Telangana to examine and put into effect immediate steps required to protect wildlife affected on account of deforestation in 100 acres." 

The suo moto case was heard by Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih who said that permission should have been sought before the trees were uprooted for construction purposes.

What did the bench say?

The case involves the 400-acre parcel in Kancha Gachibowli, which the Telangana government intends to auction for IT infrastructure development.

Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi claimed that the land was not declared forest land up until development activities were initiated by Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. He submitted that the land allotment process had been going on since March 2024, The Hindu reported.

“Even important projects such as the Char Dham roads, which would provide easy connectivity and troop movement to the border, the Union Government had to fight for years in this court… We are not concerned with ‘A’ government or ‘B’ government… Here, we are only concerned with the deployment of dozens of bulldozers to destroy 100 acres in just three days,” Justice Gavai said to Singhvi and advocate Sravan Kumar, for the State of Telangana. He continued that it is disheartening to see animals running for shelter and stray dogs attacking them.

The bench also said that the state should come up with a plan to restore the deforestation on the 100 acres of land “if you want your Chief Secretary or Secretaries to be saved from severe action.”

The matter was brought to the Supreme Court by senior advocate K Parameshwar, assisting as an amicus curiae in forest-related matters. 

According to LiveLaw, on April 3 the apex court said that, "Until further orders, no activity of any sort, except the protection of trees already existing, shall be undertaken by the State.”