The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said it must be satisfied that the public interest in preserving the Aravalli Hills is being protected before it rules on a challenge to a mining lease in Charkhi Dadri, Haryana. A drone survey placed before the Court prima facie showed that the mining area is part of the Aravallis.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor noted that the petitioner did not seem keen to pursue the case. It nonetheless held that the matter raised issues of significant public interest, and appointed an amicus curiae. 

“Before we proceed to pass any orders in the matter, we would like to be satisfied that the predominant public interest in preserving the Aravalli Hills is being ensured by the authorities while allowing mining to be undertaken by the respondents. Even though the petitioner does not appear to be serious about pursuing the matter any further, we nevertheless prima facie find that issues of significant public interest arise in the matter, warranting careful consideration by this Court,” the Bench observed.

The Court directed the Deputy Commissioner, Charkhi Dadri, to file a further affidavit "clearly specifying as to whether the mining area forms part of the Aravalli Hills and whether any mining could have been legally permissible in such area or not."

The petitioners challenged the mining rights granted to a private respondent, arguing that the mining lease had expired in January 2026. The respondents stated in their replies that the lease runs until January 2, 2027. The Deputy Commissioner filed an affidavit stating that mining is being carried out strictly under the relevant rules and only within the areas covered by the mining plan.

Drone Survey And Revenue Records

The Court noted that a drone survey report on record prima facie shows that the mining area is part of the Aravalli Hills. It added that “except for the mining area, all areas surrounding the leased land have green forest cover.”

The petitioners also asserted that the leased land is recorded in the revenue records as Gair Mumkin Pahaad (uncultivable hill). The Court held that “the revenue entries also support our prima facie view that mining area forms part of Aravalli Hills, which ought to be preserved.”

The Court appointed Advocate Jatin Bansal as amicus curiae and directed the Registry to give him the complete record.

The matter is now listed on November 11, 2026.

Mr. V.P.Sangwan, Advocate for the petitioners.

Mr. Ashish Rawal, Advocate for respondent -UOI.

Mr. Deepak Balyan, Addl. A.G., Haryana.

Mr. Puneet Bali, Senior Advocate with Ms. Niharika Mittal, Advocate for respondent No. 9.