Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) said the Telangana government has to first place on record a proposal to restore the “devastated” Kancha Gachibowli forest before the Supreme Court moves to expunge adverse remarks against the State and pay it some real compliments.

Chief Justice Gavai said “we want the environment to be protected. You can have your IT Park somewhere else. We want all the trees in the devastated forest to be replanted… Then we will remove all our ‘compliments’ and pay you some real compliments… We too want a happy ending”.

The CJI made it clear that the State’s restoration plan must balance development and sustainability.

Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, appearing for Telangana, said the State would meet the expectations of the court. The court listed the case in six weeks.

In May, the apex court gave Telangana a choice between restoring the ruined acres of Kancha Gachibowli forest where trees were felled for an IT infrastructure project during an extended weekend or face the prospect of its Chief Secretary and “half a dozen officials” being sent to a “temporary prison” near the bulldozed green cover.

“It is for the State to make a choice between restoring the forest or having the Chief Secretary and officials in prison,” Mr. Gavai had stated firmly.

On March 4, the Supreme Court had barred any activity to deplete forest cover across the country.

In April, the court had observed the extent of destruction caused in 100 acres of Kancha Gachibowli forest area showed an alarming picture. It had questioned the State’s “compelling urgency” to flatten trees with heavy machinery and excavate the land in the name of “developmental activity”.