The Telangana Forest Department scored a major victory in Supreme Court on Thursday, when over 102 acres of land in Sahebnagar Kalan of Ranga Reddy district was declared a part of the reserve forest, Gurramguda reserve forest block, and not private land.
The victory is especially important because the department faced defeat at lower courts as well as the Telangana High Court, officials informed. A few people claiming to be the legal heirs of Salar Jung III, Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, tried to usurp the land, they said.
The apex court supported the State government’s stand over the land, and overruled the previous orders to the contrary, a statement from the District Forest Officer Rohith Gopidi said. The land is thus a continuing stretch of the forest block.
The judgment by Justices Pankaj Mithal and S.V.N. Bhatti also noticed that lung spaces were shrinking in all cities, and the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad were no exception. It directed the Telangana Chief Secretary to ensure completion of the pending proposals and declare the land as reserve forest within eight weeks and to file compliance report.
Published – December 18, 2025 08:34 pm IST
