SC warns Telangana officials to restore Kancha Gachibowli forest or risk prison

Delhi: The Supreme Court warned the Telangana government on Thursday that if no decision is made on the restoration of the Kancha Gachibowli forest, the removal of trees near the University of Hyderabad would prima facie appear to be “pre-planned”.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, expressed serious concern over the felling of trees in the Kancha Gachibowli forest area. The court stated that the Telangana government must take steps to restore the forest, cautioning that failure to comply could result in legal consequences for officials involved.

The bench, while taking suo motu cognisance, had previously halted any further clearing of vegetation at the site and issued a stern warning to the state’s chief secretary about the repercussions of ignoring the court's order. The judges also raised suspicion about the timing of the deforestation, questioning why the activity was carried out during a long weekend when the judiciary was unavailable.

In response, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Telangana government, informed the court that no work was currently being undertaken at the location. He also gave the assurance that the state would fully adhere to the court’s instructions, TNIE reported.

Senior advocate K Parameshwar, acting as amicus curiae, informed the Supreme Court that a report from the Forest Survey of India, based on satellite imagery, had been submitted to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). The report indicated that about 60 per cent of the 104-acre area where the tree felling occurred consisted of moderately to heavily dense forest.

The bench warned the state's legal representatives that avoiding contempt of court would require a firm decision to restore the forest. It emphasized that any attempt to justify the tree felling could lead to serious consequences for the chief secretary and other involved officials.

The judges criticized the actions taken during the long weekend, suggesting that the timing was a deliberate attempt to carry out the activity when judicial oversight was less likely. They also noted, based on photographs, that authorities had brought in multiple bulldozers to remove the trees, underscoring the scale and planning behind the operation.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi informed the court that the Telangana government had submitted a counter affidavit and indicated that he would address the relevant issues during his arguments.

In response, the bench remarked that it was up to the state to decide whether it wanted its chief secretary and several other officials to be moved to a temporary jail, which could be set up at the very site where the forest was cleared.

The CJI posted the matter for July 23 for further hearing.

In an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had voiced concern over the environmental impact caused by the large-scale felling of trees on a land parcel adjacent to the University of Hyderabad. The bench had emphasized its commitment to environmental protection, stating that it was willing to go to great lengths to safeguard the environment.