In Brief
The Supreme Court held that the Delhi Ridge—the tail end of the Aravalli Range—requires comprehensive statutory protection and unified management. Despite a preliminary notification in 1994, final forest notification has covered only 103.48 hectares of the identified 7,784-hectare area, depriving it of full legal protection. The Court directed that the Delhi Ridge Management Board must be constituted as a statutory authority under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, as a single-window body with clear mandate and accountability. Areas outside the notified Ridge but with morphological ridge features must be similarly protected. The Court stressed that mere court orders are insufficient; statutory backing, technical expertise, transparency, public participation and periodic reporting are essential for effective environmental governance and ecological restoration.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.