Supreme Court Rejects Six-Month Extension For Aravalli Hills Expert Panel Report, Sets November 30 Deadline
Debby Jain
7 Sept 2026 2:54 PM IST
CJI Surya Kant remarked that the request appeared to suggest that the Committee was waiting for his retirement.
The Supreme Court has rejected a request by the High-Powered Committee examining the definition and protection of the Aravalli Hills for a six-month extension to submit its report, directing the panel to complete its work and file the report by November 30, 2026.
The Committee had sought time until February 28, 2027, but the Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined the request and made it clear that no further extension would be granted.
During the hearing, CJI Surya Kant remarked that the request appeared to suggest that the Committee was waiting for his retirement.
"'They have clearly asked for a date after my retirement...If they are not capable, we will re-constitute", CJI said
The Court directed the Committee to “work day and night” to complete the exercise within the deadline.
The Court also stressed that the Committee must undertake a comprehensive consultation process before finalising its findings. It has been directed to hear all stakeholders, including tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat, whose interests may be affected by decisions concerning the Aravalli landscape.
The Court further allowed the Committee to submit issue-specific interim reports wherever necessary. Such reports could enable the Supreme Court to address urgent questions concerning the Aravalli Hills separately, rather than waiting for the completion of the entire exercise.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 2, when the Court is expected to consider the Committee's report and the issues arising from its findings.
It was in June this year that the Supreme Court constituted a five-member High-Powered Expert Committee to undertake a comprehensive review of issues relating to the definition and demarcation of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges, observing that decisions with far-reaching environmental consequences should not be taken without the benefit of expert evaluation.
The Committee was to be headed ex officio by the Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). Its members include Dr. Subhash Ashutosh, former Director General of the Forest Survey of India; Dr. Rajendra Kumar Sharma, former Director of the Geological Survey of India; Brij Mohan Singh Rathore, former Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC); and Prof. Ashok K. Bhatnagar, former Head of the Department of Botany at Delhi University.
The Court also named Professor Jagdish Krishnaswamy of the Indian Institute for Human Settlements and Professor Laxmikant Sharma of the Central University of Haryana as special invitees to be associated with the Committee from time to time. An officer of the rank of Director in the MoEFCC will serve as Member Secretary.
Background
In December 2025, the Court took suo motu cognizance after public protests and concerns raised by environmental groups and civil society organizations over the revised definition of the Aravalli Hills, a region known for its ecological importance, including its role in preventing desertification and sustaining groundwater levels. It was apprehended that dilution of the definition could legitimize mining and construction activities in areas that were earlier treated as protected.
The issue arose due to differing definitions of the Aravalli Hills and Aravalli Ranges across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, which had resulted in regulatory gaps and instances of illegal mining. To address these inconsistencies, the Supreme Court had earlier constituted a high-level committee.
In a judgment delivered in November this year, the Court accepted the operational definition recommended by a committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the context of mining.
As per the accepted definition, “Aravalli Hills” refers to any landform in designated districts with a minimum elevation of 100 metres from the local relief, including supporting slopes and connected landforms. An “Aravalli Range” is formed when two or more such hills are located within 500 metres of each other.
Case no. – SMW(C) No. 10/2025
Case Title – In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues
