During a court hearing on Monday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant expressed concerns regarding the high-powered committee tasked with examining the definition and conservation of the Aravalli range. He remarked that the committee seems to be prolonging its process, potentially aiming to delay any decisions until after his retirement.
The court also permitted the committee to submit an interim report, so that proceedings do not have to wait until the completion of the entire consultation process. A three-judge bench led by CJI Surya Kant was hearing the matter when the committee sought time until February 27, 2027, to submit its report. The Supreme Court rejected the request for six months and directed the committee to submit its report within three months, by November 30, 2026. The matter will next be heard by the Supreme Court on December 2, 2026.
The dispute over the definition of the Aravallis intensified following a Supreme Court order dated November 20, 2025, which permitted mining on hills below 100 metres. On November 29, 2025, the Supreme Court stayed its own order.
During Monday’s hearing, the bench said that the proceedings were not adversarial litigation, stressing that the primary objective was the conservation of the Aravalli range.
