Supreme Court Holds Telangana Chief Secretary Accountable for Tree Felling in Kancha Gachibowli
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of large-scale deforestation in the Kancha Gachibowli area near the University of Hyderabad, holding the Telangana Chief Secretary personally accountable for the felling of trees. Expressing serious concern, the court has halted all activities in the area, except for the protection of existing trees, and warned of strict consequences for non-compliance.
The intervention comes after a report submitted by the Registrar (Judicial) of the Telangana High Court highlighted extensive deforestation. Reviewing the findings, the Supreme Court questioned the urgency behind the tree cutting and demanded clarity from the state government on whether due environmental clearances had been obtained.
The apex court has sought specific answers on whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate was issued and if the required permissions from forest authorities were secured before the large-scale clearing of trees.
“What was the compelling urgency to undertake these activities?” the bench asked, adding that the presence of wildlife, including peacocks, indicated the area had forest-like characteristics.
Photographic evidence submitted to the court depicted vast land clearances with heavy machinery deployed across nearly 100 acres. The court has ordered an immediate cessation of all activities in the region and warned that failure to comply would lead to the Chief Secretary being held personally liable.
Issuing a strong warning, the Supreme Court remarked, “If you want to enjoy state hospitality, one can’t help it,” hinting at potential legal action against the Chief Secretary in case of non-compliance.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Telangana government, argued that the land in question was not classified as a forest and that no additional deforestation was occurring. “There is no forest there at all,” Singhvi stated.
When pressed by the court on the removal of trees, the state’s counsel claimed that only shrubs had been cleared.
The issue gained attention after students and environmental activists raised alarms over the sudden tree felling over the weekend. Their protests and social media outcry brought the matter into legal focus, prompting the Supreme Court’s intervention.
Reports presented to the court also revealed the presence of a lake near the deforested land, raising further concerns about environmental degradation.
The amicus curiae informed the Supreme Court that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) was already examining the situation and would submit a report detailing the reasons behind the deforestation. The court acknowledged this but emphasized the immediate priority was to prevent further ecological damage. “That’s there, but we need to stop these activities first,” it stated firmly.
Previously, the Supreme Court had directed states to establish expert committees under Rule 16(1) of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023, to monitor developmental activities in ecologically sensitive regions. Telangana had set up its committee on March 15, 2025. However, the court expressed dismay that deforestation had commenced immediately after the committee’s formation, questioning why the land clearance was rushed before any environmental impact assessment could be conducted.
With judicial intervention in place, further proceedings will determine whether the deforestation was legally justified. The Telangana government will have to submit its responses regarding environmental approvals, and the CEC’s findings will play a crucial role in shaping the final verdict.
