Students of the University of Hyderabad stage a protest demanding the removal of police personnel from the campus.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Telangana government to explain the "compelling urgency" for clearing a large tree cover on a land parcel next to University of Hyderabad, having taken a suo motu cognisance of the tree felling drive in Kancha Gachibowli Forest.
The top court stayed any future activity till further orders.
"We direct that until further orders, no activities of any sorts, except the protection of the trees already existing, shall be undertaken by the state," a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih said.
Finding it as a "very serious" matter, the bench noted, the interim report placed before it by the registrar of the Telangana High Court depicted an "alarming picture".
The report indicated to the court that a huge number of trees were felled.
The court passed the order after senior advocate and amicus curiae K Parameshwar mentioned the matter before it saying massive felling of trees have taken place during the weekend.
The court directed the Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court of Telangana to immediately go to the spot and submit his interim report by 03:30 p.m on Thursday itself.
As the report mentioned huge developmental activity, the court directed the state chief secretary to answer several of its questions, including, the "compelling urgency" in clearing the green cover for developmental activities from the concerned forest area.
The bench also warned the state that if the court found any discrepancy or lapses, then it would take strict action against the chief secretary.
The court wanted to know from the chief secretary as to whether the state had obtained the environmental impact assessment certificate for the development activities or not and fixed the matter for further hearing to April 16.
The court also directed the central empowered committee to visit the place in question and submit its report prior to April 16.