The University of Hyderabad (UoH) is at the heart of a growing land dispute involving the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC), which has proposed the auction of 400 acres in the Kancha Gachibowli area. This move has triggered strong protests from students, faculty, environmentalists, and civil society, raising serious constitutional and environmental concerns.
Background of the Dispute
Established in 1974, UoH was granted over 2,300 acres for academic and research purposes. Over time, some of this land was allocated to various institutions. The current conflict centers on 400 acres adjacent to the university’s eastern periphery. The Telangana government claims ownership of this land, citing a Supreme Court judgment from May 2024 which upheld the state’s rights following a dispute over an earlier private allotment.
However, students and faculty argue that the land has long been used by the university for research and ecological preservation. They assert that any encroachment threatens both the academic autonomy of the institution and the biodiversity of the region.
Ecological Importance and Deforestation
The contested area is one of Hyderabad’s last remaining urban green lungs. It hosts over 230 species of birds, including migratory ones, and numerous animal species like Indian Star Tortoises, Rock Pythons, and Spotted Deer. Environmentalists and university researchers have flagged the land as ecologically sensitive and vital for the city’s environmental balance.
Despite the legal dispute, heavy machinery was brought in and trees were felled in March 2025. Satellite imagery revealed significant clearing of green cover even before the formal auction was announced, sparking allegations of pre-emptive deforestation without necessary environmental clearance.
Escalation and Legal Intervention
In reaction, more than 500 students launched protests on campus, supported by teaching and workers’ associations. The Students’ Union demanded the immediate halt of the auction, citing ecological damage and disruption to campus life. Protests intensified with sit-ins and awareness campaigns, culminating in a relay hunger strike by students on April 3, 2025.
The situation escalated when police forces entered the campus and used lathi charges to disperse demonstrators, prompting further outcry about state overreach in academic spaces.
On April 2, the Telangana High Court responded to public interest litigations by ordering a temporary halt to deforestation activities. The very next day, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the issue and directed a complete stay on tree-felling. The Court instructed the Telangana Chief Secretary to submit a compliance report and asked the High Court registrar to provide an update on the status of the land. This marked a significant intervention in favor of environmental preservation and legal due process.
Government’s Stand and Promised Development
The state government maintains that the land is government property and claims that its development plans include creating IT infrastructure and industrial facilities that would benefit the economy. Officials have promised that environmental concerns will be respected, but no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has yet been presented, fueling public skepticism.
Contrastingly, political leaders like KT Rama Rao of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi have promised to convert the area into a central eco-park if voted to power again, warning potential investors of long-term legal complications.
Constitutional and Environmental Dimensions
This issue highlights the tension between development and conservation, and between state authority and institutional autonomy. Constitutionally, Article 48A of the Directive Principles mandates the State to protect and improve the environment. Article 21, guaranteeing the right to life, has been interpreted by the judiciary to include the right to a clean and safe environment.
Environmentally, the 1996 Supreme Court ruling in T.N. Godavarman Thirumalapad v. Union of India expanded the definition of forest land to include any area with forest-like characteristics, regardless of official classification. This ruling potentially brings the 400 acres under legal environmental protection, requiring proper EIA and Forest Conservation Act clearances before any development.
The land dispute at the University of Hyderabad exemplifies a larger national conversation on how India balances ecological conservation with urban and industrial growth. While the Telangana government seeks to pursue development, the university community, legal system, and environmental activists continue to push back, emphasizing constitutional values and ecological responsibility. The final resolution will depend on judicial outcomes, public advocacy, and the government’s willingness to engage with all stakeholders transparently and lawfully.
Sources
- https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-stays-tree-felling-kancha-gachibowli-area-telangana-9922091/?utm_
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/as-hyderabad-university-row-spirals-scanner-on-revanth-reddy-government-101743706630915.html?utm_
- https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india-today-insight/story/why-students-oppose-a-400-acre-green-lungs-auction-in-hyderabad-2694684-2025-03-17
- https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/400-acres-in-kancha-gachibowli-doesnt-belong-to-uoh-telangana-govt/article69395769.ece/amp/
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