The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Telangana government, saying it will take strict action if it does not compensate for the recent felling of a large number of trees in Kancha Gachibowli in Hyderabad.
The Apex Court slams the state government and says it will take strict action if it does not pay compensation for the recent felling of a large number of trees in Kancha Gachibowli in Hyderabad.
The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Telangana government, saying it will take strict action if it does not compensate for the recent felling of a large number of trees in Kancha Gachibowli in Hyderabad.
Hearing on the matter on Thursday, the Bench of the Chief Justice of India, B. R. Gavai, and Justice Augustine George Masih told the state authorities to either restore the lost forest cover or face consequences, Bar and Bench reported.
CJI Gavai said, "It is up to the state whether it wants to restore the forest or not. The entire issue was that the benefit of a long weekend was taken, and thousands of trees were felled. Anyways, the State has to decide whether to restore the forest or be prepared for its officers to be sent to jail," as quoted by Bar and Bench.
In the wake of large-scale felling of trees by the Telangana government on a 400-acre parcel of land in Kancha Gachbowli, the apex court was hearing a suo motu case.
The bench said, "We are only concerned about the protection of forests here. Do not expand its scope." The hearing of the case has been fixed for July 23.
The bench also said that the applicants can file separate petitions raising their grievances.
The felling of trees might have taken place before April 3, when the Telangana government took a controversial decision to auction 400 acres of land adjoining the Hyderabad Central University, leading to massive protests on the university campus.
The apex court took suo motu cognisance on April 3 and passed an interim order, prohibiting further felling of trees.
SC also asked the Telangana government to answer whether there was any compelling reason to undertake the proposed developmental activity involving the removal of trees from the forest area.