Supreme Court Told Panel Suppressed Forest Survey Views on Aravalli Hills Definition

The Supreme Court's Amicus Curiae in the Aravalli hills definition case has submitted that the panel led by the Environment Secretary suppressed the Forest Survey of India's (FSI) views while recommending a 100-metre height criterion for defining the hills. The report, unsigned and undated, lacked approval from the court's Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and excluded many lower-lying hills. Following environmentalist concerns, the Supreme Court stayed its earlier order and called for an independent expert survey involving all stakeholders.