SC Pulled Up The Petitioner Who Filed SLP on Ongoing Metro Rail Phase -2 Corridor

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday struck down Act of Public Welfare Trust (APWF), a city-based non-profit organization, which had filed a special leave petition (SLP) against the proposed Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II Corridor-VI (MGBS-Chandrayangutta) project, alleging violation of statutory heritage protection laws. The petitioner filed a PIL in the Telangana High Court regarding the same issue and the case is still pending.

The petitioner’s contention in the SLP before the Supreme Court was that the Supreme Court did not adequately take into account the important documentary evidence and legal requirements regarding the preservation of the heritage. The petitioner argued that the Supreme Court overlooked the last RTI reply issued by the Telangana heritage department on May 17, 2025, which purportedly confirmed that no heritage clearance, clearance or guidelines had been issued for the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II Corridor-VI project. According to the foundation, this official record directly contradicted project officials’ claims of compliance with heritage laws.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the Supreme Court accepted the arguments of the Metro Railway officials without examining whether mandatory approvals were obtained from the heritage conservation committee and other competent authorities under the Telangana Heritage (Preservation, Preservation, Preservation and Maintenance) Act, 2017.

The Supreme Court observed that the PIL appeared suspicious and someone was supporting it while filing the petition. Since the high court was of the view that exemplary costs were applicable, the petitioner withdrew the SLP.