SC Constitutes DRMB; NGT Continues Monitoring Delhi Ridge Protection Measures

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, on Wednesday continued its monitoring of matters relating to the protection and restoration of the Delhi Ridge, taking note of the recent Supreme Court directions constituting the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) and the steps reported by authorities on formal notification of Ridge land as forest.

The Bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel, was hearing Execution Application Nos. 32/2024 and 39/2024 and OA No. 1188/2024, which collectively concern long pending issues of Ridge protection, encroachment removal and compliance with earlier orders.

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, dated 24.10.2025 and published in the Delhi Gazette on 30.10.2025. The notification declares 4080.82 hectares of the Delhi Ridge as forest land.

Counsel for the GNCTD submitted that the notification had been filed along with an affidavit, and the Tribunal directed the Registry to place the document on record, noting that it had not yet been reflected in the case file.

The declaration of more than 4,000 hectares as forest marks one of the largest single-stage protective notifications for the Ridge, a region repeatedly described in court proceedings as the ecological “lungs” and geological spine of Delhi.

The Tribunal was also apprised of a significant development before the Supreme Court.

Counsel for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) drew the Bench’s attention to the Supreme Court’s order dated 11.11.2025 in IA No. 117204/2024 in W.P. (C) No. 202/1995, where the Court directed the constitution of the Delhi Ridge Management Board under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The DRMB, as mandated by the Supreme Court, is to function as a single-window authority for all matters concerning the Delhi Ridge and the Morphological Ridge, including protection, removal of encroachments, ecological restoration, scientific management, afforestation efforts and monitoring of compliance.

The Top court has further required that the Board function transparently, undertake periodic reporting every six months, provide advance public notices for hearings, and upload reports and relevant documents online.

Additionally, all authorities and departments within the NCT of Delhi have been directed to act in aid of the DRMB’s functions.

The Tribunal also noted that the Supreme Court has provided for a Standing Committee under the DRMB and has mandated that a representative of the Central Empowered Committee make periodic reports to the Court every three months on the functioning of both bodies.

Paragraph 45 of the Supreme Court’s order, placed before the NGT, records that once the DRMB is given statutory status, its decisions will fall within the supervisory jurisdiction of the NGT under Section 14 of the NGT Act, the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Section 22, and the writ jurisdiction of the High Court under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution.

During the proceedings, counsel for the GNCTD submitted that with the publication of the 30.10.2025 notification, the earlier direction issued by the Tribunal in its order dated 15.01.2021 in OA No. 58/2013 stood complied with.

Senior Advocate Raj Panjwani, appearing as Amicus Curiae, sought time to examine the notification placed on record and to assist the Tribunal on its implications for the pending matters.

The Tribunal accordingly granted time and directed that the matters be listed for further hearing on 11.02.2026.

The monitoring exercise will continue as the NGT integrates the newly issued forest notification and the Supreme Court’s restructuring of Delhi Ridge governance into the ongoing adjudication.

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

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

Case Title: Pavit Singh v. State (NCT of Delhi) & Ors.; Sonya Gosh v. GNCTD & Ors.; OA No. 1188/2024 (News Item on Delhi Ridge)

Bench: Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member)

Order Date: 19.11.2025