Environment – Supreme Court Orders Independent Review of Aravalli Boundary Findings
Environment – The Supreme Court has set up a new expert panel to conduct an independent examination of the Centre’s report concerning the identification and mapping of the Aravalli hill range. The court expressed concern over what it described as significant uncertainties in the existing findings and said a fresh scientific review was necessary before any further action is taken. The newly formed committee has been instructed to submit its detailed assessment by August 31, 2026.
Court Seeks Independent Scientific Assessment
The decision comes months after the Supreme Court suspended the implementation of a report prepared in October 2025 by a committee headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. In an earlier order issued on December 29, the court had emphasized the importance of obtaining an objective review from specialists with expertise in forestry, geology, ecology, and environmental governance.
In its latest observations, the bench noted that a balanced and unbiased expert opinion would help resolve several disputed issues linked to the long-term protection of the Aravalli ecosystem. The court also stressed the need for consultations with all relevant stakeholders to ensure transparency and scientific credibility.
Composition of the High-Powered Committee
The newly constituted High-Powered Committee will be led by Kanchan Devi, Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. A senior Indian Forest Service officer from the 1991 batch, she will serve as chairperson in an ex-officio capacity.
Other members include Dr. Subhash Ashutosh, former Director General of the Forest Survey of India; Dr. Rajendra Kumar Sharma, former Director of the Geological Survey of India; Brij Mohan Singh Rathore, who previously served as Joint Secretary in the Environment Ministry; and Professor Ashok K. Bhatnagar, former Head of the Department of Botany at Delhi University.
The court has also designated Professor Jagdish Krishnaswamy of the Indian Institute for Human Settlements in Bengaluru and Professor Laxmikant Sharma of the Central University of Haryana as special invitees. Their participation in the committee’s work will depend on the chairperson’s requirements. The Environment Ministry has been directed to appoint a Director-level officer to act as Member Secretary.
Key Questions Before the Panel
One of the major issues the committee will evaluate is whether limiting the definition of the Aravalli range to hill formations located within 500 metres of each other could sharply reduce the area receiving environmental protection. The court has asked the panel to determine whether such a criterion might unintentionally create opportunities for mining or other activities that could harm fragile ecosystems.
The committee will also examine whether hills rising 100 metres or more should be viewed as part of a connected ecological landscape, even when separated by distances greater than the proposed limit. This assessment is expected to play a significant role in determining how future conservation measures are applied across the region.
Examination of Scientific and Regulatory Concerns
Another important aspect of the review involves the October 2025 report’s conclusion that only 1,048 of Rajasthan’s 12,081 hills satisfy the 100-metre elevation standard. The panel will study whether this finding is supported by reliable scientific evidence and whether smaller hill formations could lose protection under the proposed framework.
In addition, experts will investigate whether current environmental regulations contain shortcomings that require a broader geological and ecological study of the Aravalli landscape. The committee is expected to assess whether existing mechanisms are sufficient to safeguard one of India’s most environmentally significant mountain systems.
Background to the Decision
The formation of the committee follows discussions among parties involved in the case. During a hearing held on May 25, the Central Government informed the court that experts suggested by both the amicus curiae and the Central Empowered Committee could be included in the review process. It was also proposed that the Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education should lead the panel, a recommendation that has now been accepted by the court.