Supreme Court Sets Firm Deadline for Aravalli Hills Report
On Monday, the Supreme Court of India granted a limited extension for the High Powered Committee (HPC) tasked with defining the Aravalli Hills, a crucial step towards regulating mining activities in the region. This decision comes after the committee’s initial deadline expired on August 31, and its request for a six-month extension was denied.
The committee, established earlier this year by the Court’s directive, sought to extend its deadline until February 28, 2027. However, the Bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and including Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, expressed disapproval, interpreting the request as an attempt to delay proceedings until after CJI Kant’s retirement on February 9, 2027.
“The committee has basically asked for an adjournment till my retirement,” CJI Kant noted during the hearing.
Committee Ordered to Expedite Report Submission
The Supreme Court has mandated that the HPC “work day and night” to complete its report by November 30, 2023, with no further extensions to be granted. The Bench emphasized the importance of consulting all stakeholders, including tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and suggested that issue-specific interim reports could be submitted to address urgent matters separately. The next court hearing is scheduled for December 2.
The case originates from a suo motu action initiated by the Court concerning the definition and demarcation of the Aravalli range. This followed the Court’s November 20, 2025, judgment under a Bench led by then CJI BR Gavai, which accepted an elevation-based definition for regulating mining activities. The ruling defined the Aravalli Hills as landforms with an elevation of 100 meters or more and clusters of such formations within 500 meters as part of the range.
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Controversy and Backlash Over Aravalli Definition
The definition resulted in widespread public dissent, with critics pointing out that it left over 90% of the Aravalli region unprotected, potentially exposing these areas to unchecked mining. In response, a Bench led by CJI Surya Kant stayed the earlier judgment on December 29, 2025, putting the original recommendations on hold. The current Bench noted perceived ambiguities in the earlier directions and indicated the need for an independent expert body to evaluate the ecological impacts of such demarcation.
Consequently, a new expert panel was tasked with reassessing the definition of the hill range, with an initial report due by August 31 of this year.
ASG Bhati’s Argument and Court’s Rebuttal
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati informed the Court that an interim report had already been prepared. However, CJI Kant insisted on a final report, expressing concerns that stakeholders needed more substantial hearing time to present their materials adequately.
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“The interim report itself suggests a possible solution. The difficulty is that the affected parties have received only a few seconds of hearing. There must be an effective hearing so that relevant material can be placed before the committee,” ASG Bhati stated.
Ultimately, the Court rejected the panel’s plea for an extension to February, reaffirming the November deadline. Senior Advocate K Parameshwar served as amicus curiae in the proceedings.
