SC Refuses Aravalli Panel Extension Sets Nov 30 Deadline

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant a six-month extension to the High-Powered Committee (HPC) tasked with defining and protecting the Aravalli Hills, instead directing the panel to submit its final report by November 30. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and including Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, warned that the committee would be reconstituted if it failed to meet the new deadline. The HPC had requested an additional six months, citing the need for a comprehensive assessment and to consult all stakeholders, including tribal communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat. However, Chief Justice Kant remarked that the request appeared to be an attempt to delay the matter until his retirement on February 9, 2027. The court emphasized that no further extensions would be granted. The Supreme Court initiated suo motu proceedings concerning the definition and demarcation of the Aravalli Range in December 2025. These proceedings followed a November 2025 judgment that had accepted an elevation-based definition for regulating mining activities in the region.