Jaipur, September 7 (Daily Kiran) : During a Supreme Court hearing in Jaipur on September 7, Chief Justice Surya Kant expressed his concerns regarding the delays of a high-powered committee tasked with defining and protecting the Aravalli range. He remarked that it seems the committee is waiting for his retirement before submitting its findings.
The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Kant, was informed that the committee requested an extension until February 27, 2027, to finalize its report. Responding to this request, the Chief Justice indicated that the timeline suggested an expectation of his departure from the bench.
The Supreme Court rejected the six-month extension request and mandated that the committee submit its report within three months, specifically by November 30, 2026. Chief Justice Kant urged the committee to work diligently to meet this deadline.
He also instructed the committee to engage in a comprehensive consultation process before reaching its final conclusions. This includes considering the views of all stakeholders affected by decisions related to the Aravalli region, particularly the tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
The court allowed the committee to submit an interim report to ensure that proceedings do not stall while the consultation process is ongoing. The controversy surrounding the definition of the Aravalli range intensified after the Supreme Court permitted mining on hills below 100 meters in height in a November 20, 2025 order. This decision raised significant concerns about the potential impact on the region’s conservation.
Following widespread apprehension, the Supreme Court suspended its own order on November 29, 2025, and directed the formation of an expert committee to investigate the matter. The court has sought responses from the central government and four states linked to the Aravalli range: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, and Haryana.
During Monday’s hearing, the bench emphasized that this is not an adversarial case and reiterated that the primary objective is the preservation of the Aravalli range. They referenced issues raised in their December 29, 2025 order, suggesting a need for an independent expert body to reassess the scientific, environmental, geological, and legal aspects related to the definition of the Aravalli.
The committee’s report is anticipated to play a crucial role in determining how the Aravalli range will be defined and preserved in the future.
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