Aravalli hills: SC grants panel more time, refuses extension till February 2027

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted the High-Powered Committee (HPC) time until November 30 to submit its report on the definition and demarcation of the Aravalli Hills, rejecting its request for an extension until February 2027.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed the committee to complete the exercise within the extended deadline and said it could work “day and night”, if necessary. The court also made it clear that no further extension would be granted.

The HPC had sought an additional six months, citing the need to consult all stakeholders, including tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

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“The committee has basically asked for an adjournment till my retirement,” the CJI remarked during the hearing. CJI Surya Kant is scheduled to retire on February 9.

The bench directed the committee to submit a final report, while allowing it to file issue-specific interim reports so that urgent matters can be addressed separately by the court.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, informed the bench that an interim report had already been prepared but said additional time was needed to effectively hear the affected parties.

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The court was hearing suo motu proceedings concerning the definition and demarcation of the Aravalli Range.

The Aravalli Range is considered an important ecological barrier in northwestern India, separating the arid desert regions from the fertile plains of northern India and playing a significant role in the region’s environmental balance.

The proceedings stem from the Supreme Court’s November 2025 judgment accepting an elevation-based definition of the Aravalli Hills for regulating mining activities. The judgment was later kept in abeyance following concerns over its potential ecological impact and the extent of the area that would come under protection.

The matter will next be heard on December 2.

In May this year, the apex court had constituted a five-member High-Powered Committee to formulate a uniform definition and demarcation of the ecologically sensitive Aravalli Hills and Range for regulating future mining activities.

The court had directed the committee to submit a conservation report by August 31. ANI