Supreme Court halts Telangana’s tree felling in Kancha Gachibowli land dispute

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court has deferred the hearing on the Kancha Gachibowli land dispute to 23 July, issuing a stern rebuke to the Telangana government over unauthorised tree felling on the contested 400-acre site.

A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih expressed strong disapproval, noting that the state had systematically cleared trees using bulldozers, in direct violation of court orders. The Chief Justice emphasised that not a single tree should be felled in the area until further notice.

The government’s counsel assured the court that no ongoing activity was taking place on the land. Following this assurance, the bench decided to adjourn the matter to July.

The land in question is at the centre of a dispute between the Telangana government and Hyderabad Central University. Several public interest petitions have been filed, advocating for the area to be designated as a national urban forest due to its ecological significance.

Previously, the court had instructed the state to halt all deforestation activities. It has now reiterated that no development or auctioning activity is to take place until further orders.