CJI Rebuffs Aravalli Panel's Extension Plea, Sets New Report Deadline
Supreme Court denies Aravalli committee's extension plea, orders report by November 30, 2026, citing need for urgency.
The Supreme Court on Monday turned down a request by the high-powered committee examining the Aravalli range's definition and conservation to extend its deadline by six months. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, leading a three-judge bench, remarked that the committee's plea for time until February 27, 2027, seemed to be waiting for his retirement.
The court instead directed the committee to complete its work within three months, setting a new deadline of November 30, 2026. The Chief Justice instructed the panel to work diligently to meet the revised timeline.
The committee has been tasked with conducting comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders, including tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat, before finalizing its conclusions. The bench permitted the submission of an interim report to ensure proceedings are not stalled by the full consultation process.
The matter stems from a November 20, 2025, Supreme Court order that allowed mining on hills below 100 metres, raising concerns about the Aravalli range's protection. The court stayed that order on November 29, 2025, and subsequently formed the expert committee to examine the issue, seeking responses from the Centre and the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, and Haryana.
During the hearing, the bench emphasized that the proceedings are not adversarial but focused on conservation. It also referenced its December 29, 2025, suo motu order, which flagged the potential need for an independent expert body to review the scientific, environmental, geological, and legal aspects of defining the Aravallis. The committee's report is expected to be pivotal in shaping future policy on the range's protection. The next hearing is scheduled for December 2, 2026.