Supreme Court refuses extension for Aravalli panel, sets November 30 deadline for final report

The Supreme Court has rejected a six-month extension requested by a high-powered committee assigned to define the Aravalli hills and range. Chief Justice Surya Kant expressed doubt that the panel was waiting for his retirement, stating that they should have requested a later date. The court instructed the five-member panel, headed by forestry expert Kanchan Devi, to submit its final report by November 30, 2026.

The committee had sought an extension until February 28, 2027, citing a need for more data and expert input. The Aravalli range serves as a natural divide between arid desert regions and fertile northern plains. The Court defined the range in 2025, but this triggered concerns that large areas could be affected by mining if not properly defined.

The committee's interim report, submitted last month, indicated that terrain and elevation alone were insufficient to define the ecologically fragile Aravallis. They are now conducting assessments using spatial, ecological, geological, hydrological, and socio-economic factors, as well as stakeholder input. Environmental activists have criticized the Court for rushing to make a decision before the committee's term ends.