Hyderabad, April.07.2025 : The Telangana government has decided to cancel the police cases filed against students of the University of Hyderabad (HCU) who were protesting against the cutting of trees on 400 acres of land near the campus at Kancha Gachibowli.
This decision was taken on Monday by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. He told the police to take back all the cases that were registered during the protest. Two students who were arrested and sent to jail will also have their cases withdrawn. The Deputy CM asked officials from the Law Department to make sure there are no legal problems while doing this.
The announcement came after a meeting at the state Secretariat. The meeting was attended by a group of ministers — Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, D. Sridhar Babu, and P. Srinivasa Reddy — who were appointed by the government to look into this issue. Also present were members of the HCU Teachers’ Association, civil society groups, Congress state in-charge Meenakshi Natrajan, and Vamshichand Reddy from the Congress Working Committee (CWC).
The teachers and civil society groups shared the students’ concerns with the ministers. They made several demands:
- All police cases against protesting students should be withdrawn.
- The two students currently in jail should be released immediately.
- Police personnel should be removed from the university campus.
- Prohibitory orders that prevent gatherings should be lifted.
- Faculty and researchers should be allowed to assess the environmental damage and collect biodiversity data from the 400-acre land before the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) visits the area.
However, the students’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) did not attend the meeting. They said the government had not responded to their earlier demands, which is why they chose not to participate.
After listening to the teachers and activists, the ministers said that police will still remain on the 400-acre land because the Supreme Court has ordered its protection. But they agreed that the government can write to the HCU Vice-Chancellor, and if the Vice-Chancellor promises that the campus and hostels will remain safe, the rest of the police force will be withdrawn from other parts of the university.
On the topic of surveying the land, the ministers said that students, teachers, or researchers will not be allowed to enter the 400 acres for now. This is because the matter is still being looked at by the Supreme Court, and any activity could cause legal trouble.
The ministers also said they are open to visiting the HCU campus to speak with students. However, since the Supreme Court is hearing the case, they will not visit immediately to avoid any legal complications. Still, they assured the participants that they are ready to listen to the students’ suggestions and concerns.
The protest began after students, teachers, and environmental activists learned that the government was clearing trees on the 400-acre land. The state plans to auction the land to set up IT parks, but many believe that the area is rich in biodiversity and should be protected.
On April 3, the Supreme Court took serious note of the tree-cutting. A bench led by Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice A. G. Masih ordered the Telangana government to stop all work on the land until further notice. The court also said that even if the land is not officially a forest, the Central Empowered Committee must approve any tree-cutting activity.
The court has asked the CEC to visit the site and submit a report by April 16. The Telangana government has also been asked to submit an affidavit. The case will be heard again on April 16.
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