During the hearing of the Kancha Gachibowli land case in the Supreme Court on Thursday, the bench of CJI Justice BR Gavai warned that if the environmental damage is not repaired, the then Chief Secretary of the government, along with secretaries, will have to go to jail. Justice BR Gavai ordered that the damage caused to the environment must be repaired.
Did environmental permits get taken? Or not?, he ordered to clarify. The bench once again questioned why the work of removing trees was undertaken in view of the long weekend? It ordered to clearly state the steps to be taken to repair the damage. The Telangana government sought time to file a counter-response on the report of the Central Authority.
On this occasion, the lawyers who mentioned the cases against the whistleblowers and students mentioned it before the court. The lawyers said that they have filed an application to dismiss the cases. However, the bench rejected the applications to dismiss the cases, saying that they could not be heard together with this petition. The court suggested that another petition be filed if necessary.
The hearing on the Kancha Gachabowli land issue was adjourned to July 23. It is known that the Supreme Court had ordered the Telangana government to submit a full report by May 15 on the destruction of trees in 120 acres of HCU. The court recently conducted a hearing in this regard. On April 10, the Central Empowered Committee examined the destruction of HCU to examine all the details related to the destruction.
It also collected the opinions of the leaders of the student unions there, officials of all government departments and political leaders. Meanwhile, the committee submitted a report to the Supreme Court on April 15 stating that there was destruction. There was severe damage to trees and animals.
The Supreme Court asked the government to also submit a report on the same day. At the same time, the court asked how you will restore the trees felled in the HCU forests by May 15.
Earlier, during the hearing, the Apex Court had warned the Telangana government that if it did not give a proper report, the CS would have to be sent to jail. It was suggested that it should tell what methods will be followed to plant trees. In this regard, the government warned the CS that it would not ignore anyone.