Supreme Court Denies Extension for Aravalli Panel Submissions
The Supreme Court refused to extend the deadline for submissions to the Aravalli hills conservation committee, citing concerns of misuse by vested interests. The committee is tasked with defining the hills and recommending conservation measures by August 31.
Key takeaways
- The Supreme Court refused to extend the deadline for submitting representations to the Aravalli hills conservation committee.
- The court cited concerns that an extension could be used by vested interests to delay the process.
- The high-powered committee is tasked with defining the Aravalli hills and recommending conservation measures.
- The committee's report is due by August 31, covering Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
- The Supreme Court will consider the committee's report on September 7.
The Supreme Court has denied a request for an extension of the deadline for stakeholders to submit information to the high-powered committee (HPC) defining the Aravalli hills. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that granting such an extension through a judicial order could be exploited by those with vested interests to delay the conservation process.
The committee, tasked with recommending measures for the conservation of the Aravalli ecosystem across Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, is scheduled to submit its report by August 31. Representations were initially due by August 11.
A senior advocate representing a non-profit organization in Gujarat argued that the deadline was missed by digitally illiterate tribal communities unaware of the online notice. The advocate also claimed the committee had overlooked Gujarat and conducted site inspections only in Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
The Chief Justice rejected these criticisms, stating the court would await the committee's report and indicated that site inspections were not concluded. He added that representations could still be submitted to the committee directly, and if rejected, aggrieved parties could approach the court.
The five-member HPC, headed by Kanchan Devi of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, was formed in June. Its mandate includes defining the Aravalli hills and recommending measures to regulate mining. The court is scheduled to review the committee's report on September 7, a date also set to address the lifting of a mining moratorium in the region.
The Supreme Court had previously ordered the formation of this committee after recalling a December 29, 2025, order that had laid down a uniform definition for the Aravalli hills. The committee is directed to assess environmental impacts and consult various stakeholders, including environmentalists, communities, and mining lease holders.
The Aravalli range, an ecological barrier separating the desert from northern plains, has been under Supreme Court regulation for mining since 2002. A 2018 report indicated significant illegal mining activities, including the loss of several hillocks across numerous sites in Rajasthan and Haryana.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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