Hyderabad deforestation: Get ready to go to jail, SC tells Telangana chief secretary

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will hold state chief secretary and other officials accountable and send them to jail if the part of Kancha Gachibowli forest adjacent to Hyderabad Central University that was levelled for an information technology (IT) centre is not restored with afforestation in two months, reported TOI.

A bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justice A G Masih questioned asked senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Telangana government, whether any forest clearance was taken before trees were felled in a “tearing hurry on a long weekend knowing fully well that the SC’s forest bench would not be available for hearing the matter”.

“Did you (Telangana govt) have environment clearance? If you want to save yourself from contempt, take restoration measures. Otherwise, your chief secretary must get ready to go to jail,” the CJI-led bench cautioned. The bench was not moved when Singhvi said huge afforestation and plantation activities are being undertaken by the state. “Not in the area where the deforestation was carried out,” said Justice Masih.


The court has posted the matter for further hearing on July 23.

The CJI said, “If you try to defend your action, the chief secretary and dozen other officials responsible for deforestation will stand in danger of contempt.”

“You took advantage of a long weekend and brought in a dozen bulldozers to cut down the trees and level the forest area. Prima facie it appears pre-planned. You did so knowing fully well that the bench was not available on the long weekend. Why didn’t you start work on a Monday,” the bench asked.

Singhvi said he wants to persuade the court about IT and forest going together. However, CJI Gavai said, “We are for sustainable development but in this case the state must restore the land to its original shape during the monsoon period.”

The apex court had taken umbrage at Telangana government's audacity in carrying out deforestation when the state on March 15 had constituted the forest committee for identification of forest areas which have not been so notified. The court had barred all govts from diverting any forest areas for developmental projects till such enumeration of forest land was completed.