The Telangana High Court has ordered the state government to immediately stop clearing a 400-acre green space near the University of Hyderabad (UoH). The decision comes after students and teachers protested against removing trees in the Kancha Gachibowli area, where the government plans to auction the land for IT parks.

A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara was considering a petition filed by the Vata Foundation and another petitioner, Kalapala Babu Rao. 

The petitioners claimed that while the land is not officially recorded as a forest, it has trees, rock formations, lakes, and wildlife, making it “forest-like.” They contended that taking away this natural area violates Supreme Court orders and the Forest Conservation Act.

Government defends land clearing

The state's Advocate General (AG) replied to these allegations by asserting that the land was never forest land and was given to a private sports company in 2003. The AG defended that the land was always industrial and thus is considered industrial land.

Following both presentations, the court fixed the date of the next hearing for Thursday afternoon and instructed all clearing exercises to be suspended until then. 

Protests and clashes between students and police

In the meantime, things heated up on the ground as students and UoH teachers organized protests against the land clearance. On Wednesday morning, a protest march organized by the teachers' union of the university and student organizations became violent when police charged at demonstrators with batons.

The protesters claimed that police had put up barricades to prevent them from accessing the area, as the cutting of trees continued for the third day. The students also boycotted school, calling for police and earth-moving machines to be withdrawn from the site.

University of Hyderabad students announce indefinite protest, to boycott classes over Kancha Gachibowli land dispute: All you need to know - Hyderabad News | India Today

Environmental concerns over land auction

Many environmentalists, civil society members, and activists have strongly opposed the government’s decision to auction the land. Rights activist and former UoH professor Dr. G Haragopal pointed out the need to save the area.

“The UoH does not legally own the land, but morally, it is the university’s land. The 400 acres are part of the 2300 acres given by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi for the establishment of the university in the 1970s. Though there is no transfer of title to date, the very 50-year-old compound wall of the university is proof of the land’s ownership,” said Prof. Haragopal.

Former professor Dr. D Narasimha Reddy also stressed that the issue is not just about ownership but about balancing development with environmental protection. “The development needs to protect the present interests by securing the future interests. Alternate ecosystems cannot be developed, and hence it is important to protect the existing ecosystems,” he said.

University plans to secure land ownership

The UoH Vice-Chancellor, Professor Basuthkar Jagadeeshwar Rao, speaking to the protesting students, said the focus of the university should be attaining official possession of the land to avoid future conflicts.

He disclosed that the executive council of the university has made up its mind to get the land registered in UoH's name. The V-C made it clear that the land in question isn't presently owned by UoH, but getting it in the varsity's name is the only option to avoid further encroachment.

In the meantime, members of the student union have also approached Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, and made a formal petition for action.

 

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