Kancha Gachibowli row: Cyberabad police ban unauthorised entry into disputed area

Hyderabad: With regard to the ongoing unrest regarding the controversial land clearing of Kancha Gachibowli by the State government, the Cyberabad police have issued orders prohibiting people who do not have work in the area from entering the areas for any other purpose other than their bonafide work.

The order was issued by Dr Vineeth, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Madhapur Zone, Cyberabad with the intention of the ‘prevailing law and order situation and to prevent danger to human life and safety, to prevent disturbance of public tranquillity and to prevent occurrence of riot or an affray or obstruction to any person in his lawful discharge of duty.’

The order has been in force from 6 am April 4 in the 400 acres which is the subject matter of WP(PIL) No.30/2025 in Telangana High Court and Suo Moto WP (Civil) No.03/2025 in the Supreme Court in in survey no 25 Kancha Gachibowli Village, Serilingampally Mandal, Ranga Reddy District of Cyberabad Police Commissionerate.

“The public are hereby informed that any person violating the above orders shall be liable for prosecution on the provision of law,” the police said.

Supreme Court stops land clearing at Kancha Gachibowli

In a major setback for the Telangana government, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the State government to stop all developmental activities and the ongoing clearing of the green cover at 400-acre land in Kancha Gachibowli until further orders.

On Thursday, the bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih, registering a suo motu case on the issue, requested the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to visit the site and submit its report before April 16 as to what has been done by the State about the felled trees.

Alarming picture, says registrar after visit to site

On April 2, the bench had passed an interim order staying tree felling in the area and directed the registrar of Telangana High Court to inspect the site and submit a report today by 3:30 pm on April 3. The court stated that the report of the registrar who visited the site showed an ‘alarming picture’ as a huge number of trees were felled, deploying huge machinery and JCBs.

Senior Advocate Gaurav Agarwal represented the State. Senior Advocate K Paremeshwar (amicus curiae) and Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan (for intervenors) were present.

“Until further orders, no activity of any sort, except protection of trees already existing, shall be undertaken by the State. If found any direction is not complied in true spirit, chief secretary of State will be held personally responsible and proceeded against,” the court order said.