In March 2025, protests erupted across the city over the Telangana government’s move to auction 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, adjacent to the University of Hyderabad (UoH), for an IT infrastructure project. Students and environmentalists argued that the move threatened biodiversity in the area.
The land, home to native trees, rock formations, and wildlife has long been valued by students, residents, and environmentalists as one of the city’s last remaining natural spaces. Soon after bulldozers began demolishing rock formations and felling trees in March 2025, UoH students, teachers, and activists formed a Joint Action Committee to oppose the sale, at a base price of Rs 10,000 crore, demanding the land be officially registered under the university.
On 30 March 2025, police detained around 50 students, who were later released, and arrested two during a peaceful protest, prompting widespread condemnation. During the protests, students demanded that the government halt the reported plan to auction the land through Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) and register it in the university's name.
Originally earmarked for sports infrastructure in 2003 under the then-Andhra Pradesh government, the land deal with IMG Bharata was annulled in 2007. The UoH community claims the land has since functioned as part of the university’s buffer zone.
Earlier, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy defended the government’s actions, asserting that the land in question is state-owned revenue land—not UoH property—and was reclaimed from the private firm IMG Bharata in 2024. He denied allegations of impropriety and appointed a committee to negotiate with students. The government has also promised to withdraw police cases filed during the protests, but insists that administrative surveys and land assessments will resume once the court’s status quo order is lifted.
In 16 April 2025, the Supreme Court issued an interim stay on tree-felling, responding to a Public Interest Litigation filed by activists and concerned citizens. The court ordered a field inspection and expressed concern over the site’s biodiversity, which includes deer, peacocks, and several endemic species. It further warned the state that failure to restore the land could even lead to jail time for senior officials.
In a significant development, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) submitted its report declaring that 60-70 percent of the land qualifies as medium to dense forest. It confirmed that approximately 105 acres had already been illegally cleared, recommending the site be designated as forest land under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The CEC also called for sewage treatment and reforestation plans to restore ecological balance.
As on July 10, court proceedings are still underway and the land remains under judicial watch, while the students vow to continue their fight to protect what they call Hyderabad’s "last remaining forest."
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Opposition against environmental degradation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to stop deforestation and declare 400-acre of Kancha Gachibowli land as forest
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
2
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
No
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
Yes, they were produced within 24 hours
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023
Criminal trespass (329(3)), voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant (121(2), 132), rioting (191(3)), and criminal intimidation (351(3))
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Yes
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Other environmental services, Water bodies
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
10000
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Violation of environmental laws
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
Supreme Court
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Supreme Court
Case Number
Kancha Gachibowli Forest, State of Telangana” under Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 3/2025 (SMW(C) No. 3/2025)
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Section 170, Section 329(3), Section 121(2), Section 132, Section 191(3)), and Section 351(3) under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)
Reported Details of the Violation:
During the March 2025 protests at Kancha Gachibowli, police detained 53 students under Section 170 of the BNSS, which allows preventive custody. After a clash at the site, two former University of Hyderabad students were arrested and booked for criminal trespassing, causing hurt to a public servant, rioting, and criminal intimidation. At least five FIRs were filed, mostly under Section 170. Police denied any lathi charge but confirmed limited physical intervention.
Date of Violation
March 29, 2025
Location of Violation
Kancha Gachibowli
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
2
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
No
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
Yes, they were produced within 24 hours
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023
Criminal trespass (329(3)), voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant (121(2), 132), rioting (191(3)), and criminal intimidation (351(3))
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Yes
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
