Bench Directs Statutory Ridge Management Board Under EP Act; Declares Single‑Window Role, Removal of Encroachments and Morphological Ridge Identification

A bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran heard consolidated proceedings concerning the protection, management and permissible development in the Delhi Ridge and the adjacent “Morphological Ridge”. The matters arose from long‑running public interest litigation and multiple orders by this Court, the Delhi High Court and the NGT, and the bench was seised of issues including the final notification under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, removal of encroachments, identification of the Morphological Ridge and the legal status and constitution of the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB).

The Court directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change to constitute the DRMB by issuing a notification under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, with a specified membership and a Standing Committee to manage day‑to‑day affairs. The Court held that the DRMB would act as the single‑window authority for all matters concerning the Delhi Ridge and the Morphological Ridge, must remove encroachments, complete identification of the Morphological Ridge as per prior orders, pursue scientific conservation and ecological restoration, and submit periodic reports. The Court emphasised the need for statutory backing and accountability, noting that the Ridge “acts as the green lungs of the city” and required active protection and restoration. The Court, in its reasoning, observed: The DRMB was required to place a representative of the Central Empowered Committee on the Board and to file regular compliance reports to this Court.

Background

The dispute dated from conservation orders and management concerns about the Delhi Ridge, an identified 7,784‑hectare area in the Master Plan for Delhi that had been the subject of Section 4 notifications in 1994–1996 but had seen only 103.48 hectares finally notified under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act. This Court and other forums repeatedly recorded encroachments, fragmentation and ad hoc governance. Past directions included constitution of the DRMB in 1995, orders requiring prior clearance for diversion of Ridge land, and multiple permissions for specific projects conditioned on deposits or terms. The High Court of Delhi had held that land outside notified Ridge but having ridge‑like morphological features required DRMB clearance; the CEC and NGT also issued reports and oversight directions. The Court found duplication and overlapping jurisdiction among several committees (DRMB, CEC, NGT Oversight Committee and High‑Powered Committees) and sought consolidation. After considering reports and submissions, the Court concluded that statutory recognition of the DRMB under the EP Act was necessary to ensure transparency, regular funding, defined mandate, public consultation, and judicial scrutiny under environmental adjudicatory mechanisms. The final result: the Court ordered constitution of a statutory DRMB with a Standing Committee, set out its core functions — including removal of encroachments, ecological restoration, completion of Morphological Ridge identification and six‑monthly reporting — and required a CEC representative to report to the Court every three months on DRMB functioning.

Case Details: Case No.: I.A. No. 117204 of 2024 (CEC Report No. 5 of 2024) in Writ Petition (C) No. 202 of 1995; 2025 INSC 1306 Case Title: IN RE : DELHI RIDGE Appearances: For the Petitioner(s): [Not specified in the judgment] For the Respondent(s): Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, Additional Solicitor General of India; Mr. K. Parameshwar, Senior Counsel (assisting as Amicus Curiae)