NEW DELHI: “Why don’t you simply say that the matter be heard after my retirement,” asked an exasperated CJI Surya Kant as a bench led by him outrightly declined a request from the high-powered committee for six more months’ time to draft a comprehensive definition of Aravali hills and ranges to protect the eco-sensitive area from mining and various commercial activities and fixed a Nov 30 deadline for submission of the final report.Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for HPC, told a bench of CJI, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana that HPC would need six more months to file a detailed report, which would include completing public hearings and considering views of stakeholders. CJI Kant is to retire on Feb 9. A bench led by him had stayed the operation of SC’s Nov 20 judgement accepting a very liberal definition of Aravali that had caused an uproar among environmentalists.
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