The Telangana High Court has directed Forest Department authorities not to interfere with the peaceful possession, administration and functioning of a mosque and madrasa situated in the Ananthagiri Hills of Vikarabad district without adhering to due process of law.
Justice Surepalli Nanda passed the order while disposing of a writ petition filed by the Mutawalli of Sunni Masjid Osmania and Deeni Madarsa, who alleged that forest officials had been disrupting the affairs of the religious and educational institutions and attempting to interfere with their possession of the premises.
The petitioner contended that the mosque and madrasa had been carrying out religious, educational and charitable activities for several years. He relied upon documents and proceedings concerning their registration as Waqf institutions, including proceedings of the Telangana State Waqf Board and a subsequent Gazette notification.
According to the plea, the Forest Department officials had allegedly interfered with the day-to-day functioning of the madrasa and its activities. It was further alleged that officials entered the premises on July 17, 2026, during Friday prayers, disrupted the congregation and orally directed those present to vacate the premises without issuing any statutory notice or initiating proceedings in accordance with law.
The Forest Department, however, disputed these allegations. It maintained that its officials had neither interfered with the lawful possession of the institution nor obstructed its religious activities or sought to dispossess the petitioner otherwise than through the procedure sanctioned by law.
The authorities submitted that they remained under a statutory obligation to safeguard Reserved Forest areas from encroachments and unauthorised activities, including actions detrimental to the forest ecosystem. Any inspection or intervention undertaken by the department, it was argued, was in furtherance of these statutory responsibilities and not intended to disturb lawful religious or other activities.
Taking note of the Forest Department’s categorical stand as well as the material placed on record regarding the status of the mosque and madrasa, the High Court directed the authorities not to interfere with their peaceful possession, administration, management and enjoyment without following the procedure established by law.
At the same time, the Court expressly clarified that its order could not be construed as authorising any encroachment upon Reserved Forest land. It preserved the Forest Department’s authority to initiate appropriate action, in accordance with law, if any encroachment upon forest land was found to exist.
Thus, while extending protection against arbitrary interference, the Court made it clear that the order would not curtail the statutory powers of forest authorities to protect Reserved Forest areas and proceed against unlawful occupation through legally prescribed mechanisms.
The case was titled Mohammed Faiyaz Ali v. State of Telangana & Ors., and was registered as Writ Petition No. 24301 of 2026. The petitioner was represented by Mohammed Ismail Khan, while the State authorities were represented by the Assistant Government Pleader for Forests. Farhan Azam Khan, Standing Counsel for the Waqf Board, appeared for the concerned respondent.
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