Telangana High Court asks State government to file counter in Kancha Gachibowli case

Further the State was also directed to respond on the detention of the students and the police harassment on the protesting students

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court on Thursday directed the State government to file its counter in the public interest litigation cases pertaining to razing of 400 acres of land at Kancha Gachibowli in Serilingampally mandal. Further the State was also directed to respond on the detention of the students and the police harassment on the protesting students.

The bench comprising acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara continued to hear the public interest litigation cases pertaining to razing of 400 acres of land at Kancha Gachibowli. The court noted that the Supreme Court of India had already stayed the felling of trees in the area and directed the Registrar (Judicial) of Telangana High Court to inspect the site and submit a report today by 3:30 PM. However, the Supreme Court had clarified that the Telangana High Court could continue to hear the matters pending it.

---

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing the State Government defended the State action stating that the proposed action could generate investment of Rs 50 lakh crore for the state and employment for five lakh people. When he tried to detail the history of land and nature of land, speaking for the bench acting chief justice Sujoy Paul directed state to place their contentions in their response affidavit.

The petitioners conceded no interim orders are required in the cases as the supreme court had already stayed the felling of trees. The petitioners informed the court about the continuous felling of the trees till Thursday morning in violation of the courts order. Further, petitioners complained about the detention of the Hyderabad Central University students and others by the police and the police high handed action and harassment in a separate petition. The bench then directed the Advocate General, A Sudarshan Reddy to submit a written response on the said issues raised and posted the matter to April 7 for further hearing.