Supreme Court: Rejects Aravalli Definition Committee Extension, Sets November 30 Deadline

• The Supreme Court rejected a High-Powered Committee's request for a six-month extension to define the Aravalli Range.
• The committee, formed in May, must now submit its comprehensive report by November 30, with no further extensions permitted.
• CJI Surya Kant expressed displeasure at the extension request, suggesting the committee was delaying its work.
• The five-member expert committee is tasked with defining the Aravalli Hills based on geological, biodiversity, and geo-mapping criteria.
• A status quo on mining and related activities in the Aravalli region remains in effect until the committee's definition is finalized.

The Court instructed the committee to "work day and night" to meet the new November 30 deadline, explicitly stating that no further extensions would be granted.

India's Supreme Court has decisively rejected a request for a six-month extension from a High-Powered Committee tasked with defining the Aravalli Range. The committee, which had sought until February 28, 2027, to submit its comprehensive report, was instead given an expedited deadline of November 30. This firm directive underscores the Court's urgency in resolving the long-standing issue of the Aravalli Hills' precise demarcation.

The bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, expressed strong disapproval of the committee's request, noting that it was made "with the first stroke of the pen" and appeared to anticipate his retirement. CJI Kant remarked that if the committee members were not capable, the Court would consider reconstituting the body. Consequently, the Court instructed the committee to "work day and night" to meet the new November 30 deadline, explicitly stating that no further extensions would be granted.

The High-Powered Committee, initially constituted in May, was originally directed to submit its report by August 31, 2026. Its critical mandate involves providing a definitive understanding of the Aravalli Hills, encompassing a broad spectrum of expertise. This includes analyzing the region's geological and soil characteristics, biodiversity, flora and fauna, mineral wealth, and natural resources, alongside conducting scientific and accurate geo-mapping of the entire Aravalli Hills and Ranges.

The five-member committee comprises distinguished experts from various fields. The Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) serves as the ex officio Chairperson. Members include Dr. Subhash Ashutosh, former Director General of the Forest Survey of India; Dr. Rajendra Kumar Sharma, retired Director of the Geological Survey of India; Brij Mohan Singh Rathore, former Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC); and Professor Ashok K. Bhatnagar, former Professor and Head of Botany at Delhi University. Additionally, Professor Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Dean of the School of Environment and Sustainability at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, and Professor (Dr.) Laxmikant Sharma, Professor at the Central University of Rajasthan, were named as special invitees, to be associated by the Chairperson as needed. The committee also retains the flexibility to examine any additional issues or factors relevant to its core mandate.

The Supreme Court's intervention stems from ongoing suo motu proceedings initiated in February, which address conflicting definitions and demarcations of the Aravalli Hills. These discrepancies have significant implications for environmental regulation, land use controls, and the granting of mining permissions across the affected regions. During these proceedings, the Court had previously imposed a status quo on all mining and related activities, pending the constitution of an expert committee and the resolution of preliminary issues.

The Court acknowledged that this status quo had led to a halt in activities, particularly mining, for which licenses and permissions had been granted. However, it maintained that such a pause was necessary until foundational questions regarding the Aravalli Range's definition and extent could be effectively answered by the expert body. The expedited November 30 deadline for the committee's report signals the Court's intent to swiftly move past this interim phase, paving the way for clearer environmental and land-use policies in the Aravalli region.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising clients with interests in the Aravalli region, particularly in mining, land development, or environmental compliance, must monitor the expedited November 30 deadline for the Aravalli Range definition report. The imminent finalization of this definition will directly impact the scope of regulated activities and could necessitate immediate review of existing licenses, permits, and operational plans.

Source: Original reporting via legal news outlets