The bench was hearing a batch of PILs filed by Vata Foundation, HCU Students Union and others who questioned the clearing of 400 acres in survey number 25 of Kancha Gachibowli
Hyderabad: The division bench of the Telangana High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing in the three public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the GO 54 and alleged destruction of trees in survey no 25 of Kancha Gachibowli.
The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara, directed the state government, revenue and forest departments and police wings to file their counters by April 24 and adjourned the hearing to that day.
The bench was hearing a batch of PILs filed by Vata Foundation, HCU Students Union and others who questioned the clearing of 400 acres in survey number 25 of Kancha Gachibowli for the state's ambitious IT infrahub to be developed through TGIIC.
Senior counsel S. Niranjan Reddy appearing for VATA Foundation informed the court that the Supreme Court has directed the Central empowered committee to study the area and to report back. The Chief Secretary was also asked to file an affidavit before the Supreme Court on whether the state followed norms like environment impact study, obtaining the required permissions like environmental clearance etc.
He prayed the bench against proceeding with the hearing as the Supreme Court has already taken up the matter and issued protection to the petitioners, directing the Telangana government not to take up any work on 400 acres of land at Kancha Gachibowli.
The senior counsel averred that if the High Court goes ahead with the adjudication of the PILs, it could lead to a parallel adjudication. The other counsels, representing the petitioners in the two other PILs, also agreed to the contention of Niranjan Reddy.
Advocate General Sudarshan Reddy informed the bench that the Supreme Court will hear the cases pertaining to this issue on April 16, 2025, and prayed the court to adjourn the hearing of the PILs listed before the court to after April 16, 2025, rather than after summer vacation.
Appearing for the state forest department, senior counsel Dr Menaka Guruswamy stated that those opposing the project have resorted to a vicious campaign by creating and circulating fake images of peacocks and deer being petrified due to the alleged destruction. “They are misusing social media by spreading these fake images and news through them,” she said, while urging the court to direct the police to furnish a preliminary probe report on such vicious efforts. The bench said it is open for all the departments to file their counters, status reports etc, and posted the case to April 24.
