Aravalli: Supreme Court rejects panels’ 6-month extension request

New Delhi: After the High-Powered Committee requested a six-month extension from the Supreme Court to complete its review of the definition and protection of the Aravalli Hills, the Court directed the panel to submit its report by November 30, 2026, rejecting its request for time until February 28, 2027, according to a report by Live Law.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant refused to grant the extension and made it clear that no further delay would be entertained. During the hearing, the Chief Justice questioned the proposed timeline, noting that the requested deadline would fall after his retirement, and warned that the Committee could be reconstituted if it failed to complete the exercise.

The Court directed the panel to work intensively to meet the November 30 deadline. It also stressed that the review must involve comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders before the findings are finalised.

The Committee has been specifically directed to hear tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat whose interests could be affected by decisions concerning the Aravalli landscape.

The Court further allowed the panel to submit interim reports on specific issues wherever necessary, enabling urgent questions concerning the Aravallis to be addressed without waiting for the entire review.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 2, when the Court is expected to consider the Committee's report and issues arising from its findings.

The five-member High-Powered Expert Committee was constituted by the Supreme Court in June to comprehensively review the definition and demarcation of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges, amid concerns over the environmental consequences of decisions affecting the ecologically sensitive landscape.