The Bench has given the state of Telangana two choices: restore the forests or see its officials going to prison.
Published May 15, 2025 | 1:52 PM ⚊ Updated May 15, 2025 | 3:15 PM
The Supreme Court accepted government counsel AM Singhvi's request for more time to study the expert committee report.
Synopsis: The apex court reiterated its earlier warning that government officials would be jailed if the state failed to restore the Kancha Gachibowli forest in Hyderabad.
The Supreme Court on Thursday, 15 May, asked the Telangana government for a plan to restore the Kancha Gachibowli forest to save itself from a contempt case.
Following up on the 16 April hearing of the case, a Bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai said, “If you want to save yourself from contempt, you must give a restoration plan.”
Government counsel AM Singhvi tried to convince the Bench that IT and ecology could go “hand in hand”. However, the court turned down the argument, stating that while they were all for sustainable development, the deforestation was not in the greater interest.
“If you try to defend such a thing, the Chief Secretary and other officers will be in deep trouble,” Chief Justice Gavai reiterated. He further criticised the state for undertaking the deforestation over a long weekend. “Why did you have to do it during the long weekend?” he asked.
Justice Gavai, who heard the case earlier, took oath as the Chief Justice on Wednesday, 14 May.
The Bench also gave the state two choices: restore the forests or see its officials going to prison.
Singhvi requested another four weeks to respond to various affidavits filed on behalf of the petitioners. However, the lawyers appearing for the petitioners raised concerns regarding the timeline. Stating that the monsoon would be crucial for restoring the forest, they requested that the government be ready with a restoration plan by the next hearing.
The southwest monsoon has already advanced into parts of the Bay of Bengal, the South Andaman Sea, the Nicobar Islands, and the North Andaman Sea.
During its last hearing on 16 April, the Supreme Court criticised the state government for the large-scale felling of trees at Kancha Gachibowli next to the Hyderabad University. It ordered the immediate restoration of the forested land, dismissing attempts to justify the act.
Reiterating its importance, the Bench cautioned: “If you want the Chief Secretary to be saved from severe action, you have to formulate a plan as to how you would restore those hundred acres.”
The court also reaffirmed its commitment. “Under Article 142, we can do anything. To protect the environment and ecology, we will go out of our way if needed,” he said.
“If you try to oppose restoration, then temporary imprisonment for your officers. It’s up to the state…whether it wants some of its officers to go to a temporary prison,” the court added, asserting the need for a restoration plan.
“Pursuant to our last order, the CEC has inspected the spot and submitted a report. Dr Singhvi, appearing on behalf of the respondent state, states that the report is voluminous and the state would take some time to respond. Four weeks is granted.”
The court would take up the matter for further hearing on 23 July.
The Telangana government started clearing the Kancha Gachibowli forest early on 30 March, with an aim to auction the land for information technology (IT) and mixed-use development through the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC).
The government backtracked after the Supreme Court came down heavily on it for destroying the urban forest.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
