The Supreme Court of India has issued a landmark directive to the Central government, mandating statutory status for the Delhi Ridge Management Board to ensure comprehensive protection of what it described as the national capital's "green lungs."
Court's Strong Directive for Environmental Protection
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, in a significant ruling on Tuesday, November 12, 2025, instructed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to grant statutory backing to the Delhi Ridge Management Board by issuing a notification under Section 3(3) of the Environment Protection Act.
The bench emphasized the critical importance of the Ridge area, stating it must be preserved in its "pristine glory" through the removal of all encroachments and implementation of necessary conservation measures. The court expressed disappointment that despite its observations as early as May 1996 about inadequate conservation efforts, little substantial progress has been made over nearly three decades.
Board Expansion and Enhanced Authority
The Supreme Court ordered significant structural changes to the Board, directing its reconstitution from the current eight members to twelve members. This expanded board will include a representative from the Court's Central Empowered Committee (CEC), marking a crucial step toward enhanced accountability and effectiveness.
Once established, the Board will function as a single-window authority for all matters concerning the Delhi Ridge and Morphological Ridge. The court further mandated the creation of a five-member Standing Committee within the Board, with the CEC member serving as chairperson to oversee implementation of conservation measures.
Government Opposition and Court's Rejection
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change had opposed granting statutory status to the DRMB, expressing concerns that a central notification would create overlaps with existing authorities. However, the Supreme Court bench firmly rejected this objection, stating they found "no substance" in the ministry's submission.
The court clarified that the very purpose of establishing the DRMB with statutory status was to avoid multiple authorities handling Ridge-related matters. Like the CEC, a statutorily empowered DRMB would function more effectively while being accountable and answerable for its decisions, the bench noted.
Alarming Statistics and Urgent Need for Protection
The judgment highlighted concerning statistics about the Ridge's protection status. While the total identified area of the Ridge spans 7,784 hectares, the final notification under Section 20 of the Forest Act has been issued for only 103.48 hectares of land.
The bench observed that non-notification of the Ridge as a Reserve Forest effectively deprives the area of proper legal protection. The court emphasized that without adequate statutory safeguards, preserving the Ridge's integrity would remain challenging.
The Supreme Court also noted that granting statutory status would enable judicial scrutiny of the Board's orders through appropriate channels, including the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court itself, ensuring proper oversight and accountability mechanisms.
The Delhi Ridge Management Board was originally constituted through a Supreme Court order in 1995, but has functioned without statutory authority until now. The current judgment represents a significant step toward strengthening environmental governance in the national capital region.
