New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended its earlier order keeping in abeyance its November 20 ruling that approved an elevation-linked definition to classify landforms as part of the Aravalli range for regulating mining activities across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Citing concerns that illegal mining could cause irreversible ecological damage, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said an expert committee comprising domain specialists would be constituted to carry out a comprehensive and holistic assessment of mining and related environmental issues in the Aravalli region. The Bench also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi.
The court directed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, amicus curiae K Parameshwar and other stakeholders to suggest, within four weeks, names of environmentalists and scientists with expertise in mining and ecology for the proposed expert panel. The committee will function under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court, the CJI said.
During the hearing, the Bench was informed that illegal mining was continuing at scattered locations in the Aravallis. The court took on record an assurance from Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, appearing for the Rajasthan government, that no unauthorised mining would be permitted.
The top court noted that there had been significant opposition from environmentalists, who warned that the newly adopted definition of the Aravalli Hills could be misinterpreted or improperly implemented. The Bench observed that the public criticism appeared to stem from ambiguity and lack of clarity in certain terms and directions issued earlier, raising the risk of regulatory loopholes that could undermine the ecological integrity of the region.
Describing the Aravallis as the “green lungs” of north-western India, the court emphasised their crucial role in sustaining biodiversity, supporting livelihoods and acting as a natural barrier separating the arid desert from the fertile northern plains. It said the mountain range constituted an indispensable ecological and socio-economic backbone of the region.
The Supreme Court had on December 29 kept its November 20 order in abeyance, acknowledging the need for further clarification on the definitions it had approved. At the time, it decided to set up a new high-powered committee of experts to examine the environmental impact of the recommendations made by an earlier panel. The composition of the new committee is yet to be finalised.
In its earlier order, the court had stated that, in the interest of complete justice and public welfare, the committee’s recommendations and the directions issued on November 20, 2025, would remain suspended until the matter reached a logical conclusion. It had stressed that no irreversible administrative or ecological actions should be taken in the interim.
As a precautionary measure, the Bench had also directed that no permissions for new mining leases or renewal of existing leases be granted in the Aravalli Hills and Ranges, as defined in the Forest Survey of India report of August 25, 2010, without prior approval of the Supreme Court.
The court had issued notices to the Centre and the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi, seeking assistance from the Attorney General, Solicitor General, amicus curiae and the Central Empowered Committee on various issues relating to the Aravallis. It observed that both the committee report and the earlier judgment appeared to have left certain critical issues insufficiently clarified.
In November 2025, the Supreme Court had accepted a committee’s recommendation to define Aravalli Hills as landforms with an elevation of 100 metres or more from local relief, and Aravalli Ranges as two or more such hills located within 500 metres of each other. While approving the definition, the court had declined to impose a blanket ban on mining, noting that complete prohibitions often fuel illegal activities and criminal networks.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was directed to prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining, based on geo-referenced ecological assessments, to identify eco-sensitive and wildlife-rich areas requiring protection. Until the plan is finalised, existing legal mining operations were allowed to continue under strict compliance with committee recommendations.
However, widespread apprehensions over potential dilution of protections and the risk of legitimising mining and construction in sensitive areas prompted the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter and urgently revisit its earlier decision.
