The Supreme Court of India on Friday refused to grant any immediate relief to mining lease holders in the Aravalli range, citing “quite disturbing” feedback regarding ongoing activities in the ecologically sensitive region. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasized that the court would not pass any favorable orders until it is fully satisfied that the world’s oldest mountain system is protected from further degradation.
“We will not hear this matter in a piecemeal (manner). We will not permit any activity unless we are fully satisfied,” the bench observed, underscoring the sensitivity of the ongoing legal battle.
The remarks came during the hearing of a suo motu case titled “In Re: Definition of Aravalli hills and ranges and ancillary issue.” The Chief Justice noted that the court has been receiving reports indicating that significant activity is still occurring within the hills despite previous restrictions.
“Lot of things are happening there. We are getting feedback and it is quite disturbing,” the CJI said.
When the matter was mentioned by lawyers representing mining interests, the bench remained firm, stating that if specific mining leases are cancelled, the affected parties are free to challenge those individual decisions. However, the court declined to issue a general order in favor of the industry at this stage.
The core of the legal dispute rests on how the Aravalli hills and ranges—which span Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat—are legally defined. This definition determines which areas receive environmental protection and which are open to commercial use.
Key milestones in the case include:
- November 20, 2025: The court initially accepted a uniform definition identifying a “hill” as a landform with an elevation of 100 meters or more above local relief, and a “range” as a collection of two or more such hills within 500 meters of each other.
- December 29, 2025: Following an outcry from environmentalists, the court kept this definition in abeyance. Critics argued that the 100-meter elevation and 500-meter gap criteria were too narrow and could strip significant portions of the range of their protected status.
- Current Status: All mining activities remain stalled as the court seeks to resolve “critical ambiguities” and prevent regulatory gaps.
To resolve the impasse, the Supreme Court has asked the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders to suggest domain experts for a new panel. This committee will be tasked with providing a definitive, scientifically sound definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges.
Until a final decision is reached, the court’s May 9, 2024, directive remains in force: no mining permissions shall be granted in the Aravalli region, as defined by the August 2010 Forest Survey of India (FSI) report, without the express prior permission of the Supreme Court.
The bench reiterated that the goal is to prevent any “omissions” that might undermine the ecological integrity of the region, ensuring that one of India’s most vital natural barriers against desertification remains intact.
