The on Thursday issued an interim order staying the felling of trees in Telangana’s Kancha Gachibowli forest area near the University of Hyderabad campus, Live Law reported.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih also directed the registrar of the Telangana High Court to inspect the densely forested, 400-acre land parcel and submit a report by 3.30 pm. The Supreme Court is set to hear the matter again on Thursday.

Since Sunday afternoon, over 50 bulldozers have been the trees and other vegetation in the Kancha Gachibowli forest area, which is home to several species of flora and fauna, as part of a plan to auction off the land for the development of IT parks, The Indian Express reported.

The Supreme Court’s interim order was passed after advocate K Paremeshwar, the amicus curiae in the forest cases matter, orally informed the bench about the felling of the trees in the area. The bench directed the chief secretary of the state to ensure that no felling takes place until further orders.

The forest cases matter refers to legal challenges and Supreme Court rulings regarding the definition and protection of forests under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

Students and teachers from the University of Hyderabad have been protesting the deforestation. A scuffle broke...