The Supreme Court of India fixed 30 November 2026 as the non-extendable deadline for the High-Powered Committee to submit its final report on the definition and protection of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges. The five-member expert panel was constituted on 25 May 2026 and had earlier missed its original deadline of 31 August 2026.
Aravalli Hills and Ranges
The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest mountain systems in India and extends across Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat. The range is associated with issues of land degradation, mining regulation, groundwater recharge, and forest conservation.
High-Powered Committee
The committee is chaired by Kanchan Devi, Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. The panel was asked to prepare a final report using spatial, ecological, geological, hydrological, and socio-economic data from the Aravalli region.
Supreme Court directions and hearing schedule
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana heard the matter on 7 September 2026. The court rejected the request for a six-month extension until 28 February 2027, directed the committee to work day and night, and allowed issue-specific interim reports. The next hearing was listed for 2 December 2026.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Aravalli Range is generally described as one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world.
- The Aravalli hills pass through Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat.
- The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education is a premier forestry research institution under the Government of India.
- The Supreme Court of India can constitute expert committees in matters involving environmental protection and land-use regulation.
Stakeholder consultation
The court directed the committee to hear all stakeholders, including local tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The committee was also permitted to submit interim reports on specific issues before the final deadline.
Committee composition and mandate
The five-member panel was formed to examine the scientific basis for defining the Aravalli landscape and to frame protection-related recommendations. The mandate covers ecological, geological, hydrological, and socio-economic aspects of the mountain system.
Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyaan is a citizen group associated with conservation concerns in the Aravalli region. The next judicial review of the matter is scheduled for 2 December 2026.
