Aravalli Hills : Supreme Court Seeks Expert Panel To Determine Scope Of Permissible Activity, Maintains Halt On Mining

The Supreme Court today said it will first seek the opinion of experts on whether mining can be permitted in the Aravalli region and, if so, to what extent, while continuing the status quo on all licensed mining activities for the time being.A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi was hearing the suo motu case initiated over concerns that the recent change in the definition of Aravalli Hills could open doors to unregulated mining and environmental damage.On the issue of halt imposed by the Court on mining in the region, the Chief Justice said, “Let first experts tell us whether mining can be allowed or not. If it is to be allowed then to what extent it can be allowed, and who will monitor it. We will cross all bridges one by one.”The Court observed that the opinion of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change would be of assistance in defining the expression “Aravalli”, its total area, the ranges, the forest cover, and identifying parts of the Aravalli where cities, towns and villages have already been developed over centuries. The Court requested the Ministry to suggest a panel of domain experts along with their profiles. It also asked the advocates appearing in the matter to suggest eminent subject experts for constituting the committee, as envisaged in its order dated December 29, 2025.In that order, the Court had indicated that it would constitute a high-powered expert committee to holistically assess the report and examine issues including the definition of “Aravalli Hills” and “Aravalli Range”, the impact of the 100-metre elevation threshold, and whether regulated mining could be permitted in the 500-metre gaps between hills without compromising ecological continuity.The Court stated halt on mining must continue for the time being until preliminary issues are effectively addressed after the constitution of the expert committee.“We are conscious of the fact that all activities, especially mining, for which license/lease etc. and necessary permissions were granted have come to be to a halt. However such status quo would have to be maintained for the time being tell some of the preliminary issues are effectively answered after the constitution of the committee”, the Court observed.Amicus Curiae Senior Advocate K Parameshwar circulated a detailed note on issues likely to arise in the case. The Court granted time till March 10 to advocates for the parties and intervenor to submit their respective notes on the issue. It also requested Advocate Jai Cheema to assist the Court as a domain expert. The matter will now be listed for the purpose of constituting the committee and framing the issues that arise in the case.BackgroundThe suo motu proceedings arose after concerns were raised that the revised definition of the Aravalli Hills could permit unregulated mining and environmental damage. In November 2025, the Court accepted an operational definition recommended by a committee of the Ministry in the context of mining. As per that definition, “Aravalli Hills” refers to any landform in designated districts with a minimum elevation of 100 metres from the local relief, including supporting slopes and connected landforms. An “Aravalli Range” is formed when two or more such hills are located within 500 metres of each other. The Court had also directed the Union Government to prepare a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining before permitting any new mining activity in the region.On December 29, 2025, the Court kept in abeyance its November 2025 directions after observing that the expert committee report and its own observations were being misconstrued. It had said that a fair, impartial and independent expert opinion was necessary before implementation.Case no. – SMW(C) No. 10/2025Case Title – In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues

Aravalli Hills : Supreme Court Seeks Expert Panel To Determine Scope Of Permissible Activity, Maintains Halt On Mining

Amisha Shrivastava

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