Supreme Court sets Nov 30 deadline for Aravalli Hills report

The Supreme Court of India has rejected a request from the High-Powered Committee (HPC) for a six-month extension to submit its report on the definition and demarcation of the Aravalli Hills. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant directed the committee to submit its final report by November 30, warning that no further extensions would be granted and that the panel could be reconstituted if it fails to meet the deadline.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Kant remarked that the committee’s request for time until February 2027 appeared to be an attempt to delay the matter until after his retirement on February 9. The court instructed the committee to “work day and night” to complete the task. The HPC is required to conduct comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders, specifically including tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The Aravalli Range is a critical ecological barrier in northwestern India, essential for groundwater conservation and preventing desertification. The ongoing proceedings follow a previous judgment regarding elevation-based definitions used to regulate mining activities in the region. The court has permitted the committee to file issue-specific interim reports to address urgent environmental concerns while the full review is completed. The next hearing is scheduled for December 2.