Scientists, environmentalists and policy experts from across India have written to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), expressing concerns over the composition of the new committee constituted by the Supreme Court to examine issues related to the Aravalli range. They have urged the court to reconstitute the panel to ensure greater independence, impartiality and wider domain expertise.
Stalin Dayanand of Vanashakti said the newly constituted committee does not meet the criteria of a High-Powered Expert Committee as envisaged in the Supreme Court’s suo motu order dated December 29, 2025. “The committee neither fulfils the requirement of being a High-Powered Expert Committee nor meets the standards of impartiality and independence laid down by the Supreme Court,” he said.
Joseph Hoover of the United Conservation Movement urged the court to order a comprehensive inquiry into the conduct of officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). He referred to allegations contained in the amicus curiae report dated February 24, 2026, regarding the alleged suppression of a September 2025 report by the Forest Survey of India, which reportedly reduced the number of Aravalli districts and pointed out other irregularities.
Dr Ravi Chopra of the People’s Science Institute, Dehradun, called for broader representation of experts on the committee. Geoscientist C.P. Rajendran said that a body entrusted with protecting the Aravallis must be led by independent specialists, including environmentalists, ecologists, scientists, hydrologists, public health experts and livelihood specialists, rather than being dominated by serving or retired government officials.
Environment and policy expert Sagar Dhara raised similar concerns, stating that the preservation and conservation of the Aravallis require a more inclusive approach in selecting committee members, including the chairperson. Pushkar Kulkarni stressed that domain experts must be an integral part of the committee to ensure that its report accurately reflects the environmental, social and economic costs of mining and related activities.
Prafulla Samantara said an independent environmentalist, ecologist or scientist with expertise in the Aravalli region and no reporting relationship with the MoEF&CC should be appointed as the chairperson of the committee.
Samita Kaur, an environmentalist from Punjab, called for the inclusion of experts in public health, occupational issues, traditional livelihoods, ecology, wildlife and hydrology to comprehensively assess the impacts of mining.
Dr Sumita Kale demanded that the committee’s report be submitted directly to the Supreme Court instead of being routed through the MoEF&CC or any other government department.