New Delhi: In a strong rebuke to the Telangana government, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered an immediate halt to the ongoing deforestation of a 400-acre green zone near the University of Hyderabad in Kancha Gachibowli. The state had begun clearing the areaโhome to diverse flora and faunaโreportedly to auction the land for IT park development.
The apex court, comprising Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih, slammed the โalarming deforestation activitiesโ and instructed that no further action, except for protecting the existing trees, should take place until further notice.
This decision followed the Telangana High Courtโs earlier directive to pause the felling of trees, which came just a day before. Responding to the urgency of the matter, the Supreme Court also directed the Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court to conduct a spot inspection and submit a report by the afternoon.
After reviewing the report and accompanying photographs, the court noted with concern the presence of wildlife, including peacocks and deer, and pointed to the use of heavy machinery in the area. These observations, the bench said, were โprima facie indicationsโ of a forest being cleared without proper assessment or authorization.
The court questioned the stateโs haste, especially as the statutory committee meant to identify forest land was only formed on March 15. โWhat was the alarming urgency to begin deforestation immediately after the committee was constituted?โ the bench asked, expressing strong disapproval.
Justice Gavai issued a pointed remark when told the Chief Secretaries are held liable for such delays: โChief Secretary will go to temporary prison constructed on the same spot near the lakeโฆ if the Chief Secretary wants to enjoy the State hospitality, one canโt help it.โ
While the Telangana government, represented by Senior Advocate Gaurav Agarwal, argued that the land was not officially classified as a forest, the court countered by asking whether the necessary permissions for cutting down trees had been obtained. The rapid clearanceโnearly 100 acres in a few daysโalso raised eyebrows.
The bench directed the Chief Secretary to submit an affidavit detailing the urgency behind the operation and to explain why certain unrelated officers were present at the site. It further ordered that a suo motu case be registered in the matter and warned that any violation of its orders would lead to personal liability for the Chief Secretary.
The matter reached the Supreme Court through amicus curiae and Senior Advocate K Parameshwar, who brought the issue to the benchโs attention amid ongoing forest-related litigation.
