On April 07 in response to intensifying protests and legal appeals, the Telangana High Court on Wednesday ordered an immediate halt to the clearing of a 400-acre green zone near the University of Hyderabad (UoH). The area, located in the Kancha Gachibowli region, has recently seen a flurry of activity as the state government began preparing the land for auction, reportedly to pave the way for future IT park development. The court intervention followed widespread backlash from students, teachers, environmentalists, and civil society members, all raising concerns over the ecological impact and ownership claims.
The order came during a hearing of petitions filed by Vata Foundation and activist Kalapala Babu Rao, who argued that the land—though not officially declared as forest—is rich in biodiversity and functions as a critical catchment area. The petitioners said the deforestation violated Supreme Court verdicts, the Forest Conservation Act, and related rules. The High Court bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara, agreed to review the matter further and directed the state to stop all ongoing activities until the next hearing.
Protests Escalate, Police Action Draws Criticism
Even as the legal proceedings unfolded, protests intensified on the ground. On Wednesday morning, a march organized by the university’s teachers’ union and students turned tense when police intervened. Students alleged that barricades had been set up to prevent them from reaching the site, and a scuffle broke out after police used batons to disperse the crowd. For the third consecutive day, students reported continuous tree felling and clearing of land by more than 50 earthmovers.
Students also boycotted classes, demanding the withdrawal of police and machinery from the site. Former UoH professors, including Dr G Haragopal and Dr D Narasimha Reddy, voiced strong opposition, stating that development should not come at the cost of the environment and that the university has a moral, if not legal, claim over the disputed land.
University Pushes for Land Ownership Transfer
UoH Vice-Chancellor Professor Basuthkar Jagadeeshwar Rao addressed the protesting students, stating that the university’s executive council is committed to securing legal ownership of the land. He emphasized that formal land registration in the university’s name is the only way to prevent future encroachments. Student representatives also submitted a petition to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging intervention in the matter.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for Thursday afternoon to continue reviewing the legal and environmental arguments surrounding the land clearance.
