Pranav B Prem

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, continued its oversight of issues concerning the protection and ecological restoration of the Delhi Ridge, while taking note of the recent intervention of the Supreme Court directing the constitution of the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB). The matter was heard by a Bench comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel in Execution Application Nos. 32/2024 and 39/2024 and OA No. 1188/2024 on Wednesday. These proceedings collectively concern long-pending questions relating to encroachment removal, conservation of the Ridge ecosystem and compliance with earlier judicial directions.

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During the hearing, the Government of NCT of Delhi informed the Tribunal that it had issued a notification under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 on 24.10.2025, which was subsequently published in the Delhi Gazette on 30.10.2025. By this notification, 4080.82 hectares of land forming part of the Delhi Ridge has been formally declared as forest area. Counsel for GNCTD submitted that the notification had already been filed along with an affidavit. The Tribunal directed the Registry to ensure that the notification is reflected on record, noting that it had not yet come up in the digital case file.

The declaration of more than four thousand hectares of Ridge land as forest marks a significant milestone in the decades-long efforts to protect and preserve the Ridge — repeatedly described in court proceedings as the ecological “lungs” and geological backbone of Delhi. Alongside the information provided by the Delhi Government, the Tribunal was also apprised of major developments before the Supreme Court. Counsel for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change drew attention to the Supreme Court’s order dated 11.11.2025 in IA No. 117204/2024 in W.P. (C) 202/1995, through which the Court has directed the constitution of the Delhi Ridge Management Board under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

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According to the Supreme Court’s order, the newly constituted DRMB will function as a single-window authority responsible for all matters concerning the Ridge and the Morphological Ridge, including ecological restoration, protection from encroachment, scientific management, afforestation initiatives and monitoring of compliance. The Supreme Court has mandated that the Board operate transparently by issuing advance public notices for hearings, filing status reports every six months and uploading relevant documents online. It further directed all authorities and departments within the NCT of Delhi to act in aid of the DRMB and has provided for a Standing Committee under the Board. A representative of the Central Empowered Committee will also submit reports to the Supreme Court every three months on the Board’s functioning.

The Tribunal also noted Paragraph 45 of the Supreme Court’s order, which records that once the DRMB attains statutory status, its decisions will fall within the supervisory jurisdiction of the NGT under Section 14 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Section 22 and the writ jurisdiction of the High Courts under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution. During the proceedings before the NGT, counsel for GNCTD submitted that with the publication of the 30.10.2025 notification, compliance had been achieved with the earlier direction issued by the Tribunal in its order dated 15.01.2021 in OA No. 58/2013.

Senior Advocate Raj Panjwani, appearing as Amicus Curiae, requested time to examine the newly filed notification and assist the Tribunal on its implications for the pending matters. Accepting this request, the Tribunal listed the case for further proceedings on 11 February 2026.

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With these developments placed on record, the NGT decided to continue monitoring the matter so that the formal notification of Ridge land as forest and the restructuring of governance under the Supreme Court-mandated DRMB can be effectively integrated into the ongoing adjudication and compliance process.

Appearance

Applicants: Ms. Karishma Maria, Adv. for Applicant in E.A No. 32/2024 Mr. Raj Panjwani, Senior Advocate (Amicus Curiae) with Mr. Aayushman Aeron, Adv. in E.A No. 39/2024

Respondents: Mr. Aman Panwar, Mr. Siddhant Buxy, Mr. Abhinav Kumar & Mr. Manav Kaushik, Advs. for GNCTD Ms. Suhasini Sen & Ms. Raushni Kaura, Advs. for MoEF & CC Ms. Jyoti Mendiratta & Ms. Ananya Basudha, Advs. for DM South Ms. Puja S. Kalra & Mr. Virendra Singh, Advs. for MCD (Through VC) Mr. Gigi. C. George & Mr. Sunil Kumar, Advs. for Delhi Police

Cause Title: Pavit Singh v. State (NCT of Delhi) & Ors.; Sonya Gosh v. GNCTD & Ors.

Case No: Original Application No. 10/2014 with ors.

Coram: Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel