HYDERABAD – The Supreme Court of India on Thursday ordered an immediate halt to all tree-cutting and construction activity on a disputed 400-acre land parcel in Kancha Gachibowli, providing relief to students of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) who had launched an indefinite hunger strike earlier in the day.
The protest, spearheaded by the UoH Students’ Union, saw at least 50 students participating in a relay hunger strike under the sweltering sun, with over 200 others rallying in support. Their demands included the withdrawal of all earth-moving equipment from the site and a complete stop to tree-felling, which they argued was causing irreparable ecological damage.
The apex court’s intervention marked a partial victory for the protesters, who had been staging demonstrations for five consecutive days. The students’ campaign also received backing from the university’s Workers’ Union and non-teaching staff.
“This is a win for our collective resistance,” said Anamika, a student protester. “We have called off the protest and the hunger strike following the Supreme Court’s stay order.”
The students plan to celebrate the legal victory with a rally on campus Friday, framing the court’s decision as validation of their environmental concerns and community-led activism.