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Issue regarding Aravalli Ranges

1. Vide order dated 10th January, 2024, this Court had directed that all the matters pertaining to the Aravalli Ranges falling in the States of Haryana and Rajasthan to be clubbed together and directed to be placed before one Bench on 13.03.2024 i.e. today.

2. Today we are informed that the matters are not listed.

3. We have passed the aforesaid direction taking into consideration that some matters with regard to Aravalli Range in the Delhi and National Capital Region (for short, ‘Delhi NCR’) as well as the State of Rajasthan were listed before the Bench presided over by one of us (B.R. Gavai, J.). It was also noticed that some of the matters were listed before the Bench presided over by Hon. Mr. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul (As His Lordship then was). We are informed that the said matters pertain to the State of Haryana.

4. Since Aravalli Range stretches through the States of Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi NCR, it was found that it will be in the interest of justice that all the matters are listed before one and the same Bench.

5. It will not be out of place to mention that the ‘Green Bench assignment’ has been assigned to the Bench presided over by one of us (B.R. Gavai, J.). For a long period, this Bench has been monitoring the issues with regard to Aravalli Range in Delhi ridge area so also the State of Rajasthan. We have also appointed certain committees to address various issues.

6. With the valuable assistance of Mr. K. Parameshwar, learned Amicus Curiae and Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, learned Additional Solicitor General of India, various directions have been issued from time to time.

7. Various issues pending before the Green Bench are interlinked with the issues pertaining to Aravalli Range.

8. We, therefore, find that it would be appropriate that all the matters with regard to Aravalli Range are heard together with the connected matters pending before the Green Bench.

9. However, the allotment of the matters is exclusively within the domain of the Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India, being the Master of Roster. Therefore, we find that it is necessary that this fact should be brought to the notice of the Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India. We, therefore, direct the Registrar (Judicial) concerned to place this order before the Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India, to obtain appropriate orders.

10. Taking into consideration that the rampant illegal mining is going on in the Aravalli Range falls in the State of Haryana, the Registry is directed to place this matter forthwith before Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India.