Supreme Court Stays Tree Felling In Kancha Gachibowli Land In Hyderabad, Seeks Report From Telangana HC Registrar

The Supreme Court on Thursday passed an interim order staying the tree felling in Telangana's Kancha Gachibowli forest area near the Hyderabad Central University campus.

A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih passed the order after an oral mention was made by Senior Advocate K Paremeshwar, the Amicus Curiae in the forest cases matter (TN Godavarman), regarding the tree-felling.

The bench directed the Registrar of the Telangana High Court to inspect the site and submit a report today by 3.30 PM. The Chief Secretary of State has been directed to ensure no felling takes place till further orders. The Court will hear the matter today at 3.45 PM.

The order was dictated thus :

"Newspapers depict that vast deforestation is being undertaken in the Kancha Gachibowli forest. It shows that large number of trees are being fell. The news items show that taking advantage of long holidays over the weekend, the authorities have rushed to felling the trees. It is further reported that the forest area is house to 8 types of scheduled animals.

We direct Registrar (Judicial) of Telangana HC to forthwith visit the site in question and submit his interim report by 3.30 PM today. Registrar (Judicial) of this Court to forthwith communicate this order to Registrar (Judicial) of HC, who shall act upon it forthwith.

We further direct Chief Secretary of State of Telangana to ensure that until further orders are passed by this Court, no felling of trees be permitted in Kancha Gachibowli forest area."

When Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, on behalf of State of Telangana, informed that the Telangana High Court is also seized of the matter, the bench clarified that it has not stayed the proceedings before the High Court.

Yesterday, the Telangana High Court passed a status quo order on the tree felling in the area, which was to operate till today (when the matter was to be taken up again).

Update: When the matter was taken up at 3:45 PM, the Court registered a suo motu case and stopped further developmental activities (including felling of trees) in the alleged forest area. Taking a serious view of the 'alarming' situation, it also called for an affidavit from the Chief Secretary of Telangana to explain inter-alia what was the 'compelling urgency' and warned that if there is non-compliance with directions, the Chief Secretary will be held personally liable.

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