The Supreme Court of India has set up a five-member high-powered expert panel to re-examine how the “Aravalli hills and ranges” are defined and delineated. The decision follows the court’s view that there are “critical ambiguities” in an earlier assessment and that a “fair, impartial and independent” scientific and ecological review is needed after consulting relevant stakeholders.
The panel is tasked with reviewing the Centre’s report on the definition, including whether Aravalli hills above 100 metres constitute a continuous ecological area even where a proposed 500-metre gap exists, and whether mining should be allowed in such spaces. It will also consider the ecological impact of regulated mining and identify areas that may be excluded from protection.
The committee is headed by Kanchan Devi, Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). The court has directed the panel to submit a comprehensive report by August 31, 2026. The move comes after the apex court earlier stayed the implementation of an October 2025 report chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, citing the need for an independent domain-expert body.
