The Asaf Jahi royal family a.k.a Nizam’s heirs has appealed to the Supreme Court, asserting their legal claim to the 2,725-acre Kancha Gachibowli land and requesting its protection during an ongoing environmental dispute.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Nawab Mir Milad Ali Khan, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, and H.H. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan, with their lawyer, said they have filed an application to join the Suo Moto Writ Petition in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the Apex Court started this case on April 3, 2025, after reports of large-scale deforestation in the area.
The family maintains that the land has historically been part of the seventh Nizam’s private estate, as documented in Survey Nos. 25 and 26 of Serilingampally. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan, recognized by the wider family as custodian of Asaf Jahi affairs, said, “This is not a battle for status or wealth, it is a battle for truth and justice. The Kancha Gachibowli land is a symbol of our forefathers’ vision and service to India.”
Recalling his great-grandfather’s legacy, he noted his contributions to universities and hospitals, as well as the donation of gold to India’s defense fund during the 1965 war. He added, “The least this nation can do is honour that legacy by protecting what rightfully belongs to his heirs.”
The family reportedly bases their claim on old records, including the official ‘Blue Book’ from the Government of India, which they say lists the Nizam’s private properties. They also refer to a 1950 agreement between the Nizam and the Government of India, which they believe confirmed his private ownership of some properties after Hyderabad joined India. After the seventh Nizam’s death in 1967, the estate was inherited by his legal heirs said Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan.
The Supreme Court’s case focuses on the environmental impact of recent activities in Kancha Gachibowli. The court has sought explanations from the State of Telangana regarding the legality of tree felling and the nature of development projects in the forest region.
The Nizam’s descendants expressed concern about environmental damage and emphasized the importance of preserving what they consider part of Hyderabad’s heritage.
Echoing the sense of loss, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan stated, “Our forefather gave his gold to defend India, his wealth to educate and heal its people. Now the land that represents his humanity and vision is being destroyed. This is not only our loss, but it is Hyderabad’s loss, it is India’s loss.”
Their legal counsel, Advocate Muhammad Veqar Hussain, stated that the family is seeking to have the Supreme Court examine and affirm their ownership rights as part of the current environmental case, and to protect those rights during the proceedings.
Furthermore, Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan reiterated the family’s request to protect the Nizam’s legacy, uphold the law, and preserve history. The family now awaits the Supreme Court’s next steps.
