Citation : 2025 Local Law (CG) 1306
The Supreme Court has directed that the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) be accorded statutory recognition, emphasizing that the Delhi Ridge serves as the “green lungs” of the national capital amid a worsening air pollution crisis.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K.V. Chandran delivered the ruling on November 11, 2025, in In Re: Delhi’s Ridge (Writ Petition (C) No. 202 of 1995), while examining long-standing issues related to the preservation and protection of the Ridge area.
The Court noted that despite decades of judicial oversight, the lack of statutory authority for the DRMB has led to overlapping jurisdictions, poor coordination, and continued ecological degradation. It highlighted that of the total 7,784 hectares of Ridge land, only 103.48 hectares have been notified as Reserved Forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, leaving a vast expanse unprotected.
Rejecting objections from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) that statutory recognition could create jurisdictional overlap, the Bench observed that a unified legal framework under a single statutory body would strengthen environmental governance, ensure accountability, and promote long-term ecological preservation.
The judgment described the Ridge as more than just a forested area, calling it an “ecological lifeline” that acts as a natural barrier against air pollution and soil erosion. The Court stated that protecting the Ridge is both a constitutional and ecological necessity, firmly linking it to the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
“The Ridge is not merely a stretch of forest land but an ecological lifeline of Delhi. In the current state of environmental distress, preservation of the Ridge assumes the character of an urgent constitutional obligation,” the Bench observed.
Key Directions of the Supreme Court
1. Statutory Empowerment:
The DRMB shall be granted statutory status through legislative or executive action to ensure enforceability and accountability in its decisions.
2. Reconstitution of the Board:
The DRMB will be reconstituted with clear jurisdiction and powers for the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of the Ridge, including measures to curb encroachments and illegal constructions.
3. Transparency and Public Access:
The Board must maintain public records, publish relevant reports, and ensure public access to information on its actions and decisions.
4. Periodic Reporting to the Court:
The DRMB must file bi-annual compliance reports before the Supreme Court detailing steps taken for conservation, rehabilitation, and encroachment removal.
5. Inter-Departmental Coordination:
All Delhi government departments and agencies must cooperate with and follow DRMB directives for Ridge protection.
The Court stressed that judicial monitoring alone cannot ensure lasting environmental protection and called for legislative empowerment to institutionalize accountability. The ruling establishes a framework to preserve the Ridge as a critical ecological asset for the National Capital Region (NCR).
The case also addressed compliance issues related to the order dated April 16, 2025, in Writ Petition (C) No. 4677 of 1985, underscoring the need for consistency in protecting forest lands under judicial supervision.
By mandating statutory status for the DRMB, the Supreme Court has effectively moved to institutionalize environmental governance in Delhi, ensuring transparency, coordination, and long-term sustainability of one of India’s most vital ecological zones.
