CJI B R Gavai Wednesday reiterated his criticism of Telangana government’s tree felling in the Kancha Gachibowli area in Hyderabad saying that using bulldozers to clear it overnight cannot be justified as sustainable development.
CJI Gavai, presiding over a three-judge bench, was hearing the suo motu case registered by the court over the tree felling by the CM Revanth Reddy-led government in the forest area located near the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district.
“I am myself an advocate for sustainable development but that doesn’t mean that overnight you should employ 30 bulldozers and clear all the jungle,” the CJI remarked orally.
The bench adjourned the hearing until August 13 to enable some of the intervenors to file their response to the affidavit filed by the state.
The controversy arose from a government order by the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC), seeking to alienate 400 acres of green cover land in the Kancha Gachibowli forest area, for setting up IT infrastructure.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the top court had in earlier hearings directed a stay on the deforestation drive and warned state officials of contempt of court proceedings. The SC had then warned the state’s counsel, “If you want (your) Chief Secretary to be saved from severe action, you have to come out with a plan as to how you would restore those 100 acres.”
The issue came to the forefront when reports emerged that a significant number of trees were felled over a weekend starting March 30, 2025. Students and environmental activists staged protests against the government’s actions, drawing the attention of the HC. They demanded that the state withdraw its decision to auction the land, saying that no excuse for development is justification for the destruction of the environment.
