Supreme Court Stays Nov 20 Aravalli Verdict, Mining Ban Continues
Bench Orders Fresh Expert Review of Aravalli Hills
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India today stayed the November 20, 2025, judgement that had redefined the Aravalli hills as landforms rising 100 metres or more above the surrounding terrain, taking suo motu cognisance of concerns that the ruling could significantly weaken environmental safeguards in one of India’s oldest and most ecologically sensitive mountain ranges. Until the matter is reconsidered, the Court directed that existing restrictions on mining in the region, which extends across Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat, will remain in force.
The three-judge Bench hearing the matter consisted of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice J.K. Maheshwari, and Justice Augustine George Masih. The Bench observed that the November 20 judgment, which relied on a committee report proposing a primarily geomorphological definition of the Aravallis, raised serious questions about whether extensive areas of ecological significance could fall outside legal protection. Acting on its own motion, the Court placed the judgment in abeyance and indicated that the matter required detailed re-examination, proposing the formation of a high-powered expert committee to review the definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges, assess the ecological and hydrological implications, and examine the framework governing mining and environmental regulation. Notices were issued to the Union government, the governments of Rajasthan, Haryana, and other concerned authorities, and the case has been listed for further hearing in January 2026.
The Court’s suo motu action followed widespread concerns expressed by environmentalists, conservation experts, and civil society groups that the November 20 definition could exclude large portions of the Aravalli ecosystem from protection. Senior advocates appearing in earlier related matters highlighted that the Aravallis, an ancient and heavily eroded mountain system, include low hills, ridges, forests, catchment areas, and other ecologically sensitive landscapes that are critical for groundwater recharge, biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and soil stabilisation. They warned that a rigid 100-metre elevation-based criterion could allow mining, construction, and developmental activities in areas that have historically been recognised as part of the Aravalli ecosystem, undermining decades of environmental oversight.
Also read: Legal Fight Intensifies Over Aravalli Hill Classification
The Court noted that representations and materials submitted after the November 20 ruling suggested potential unintended consequences from adopting the height-based definition. It emphasised that scientific, ecological, and legal considerations must guide any revised definition, and that existing mining restrictions should remain in place until the review is completed. The Bench underscored that the Aravalli range’s ecological integrity, including its forests, wildlife, and forest-dependent communities, required careful judicial and scientific scrutiny before any relaxation of protections.
The Supreme Court’s engagement with Aravalli-related environmental issues extends back more than two decades. In 2002, environmentalist M.C. Mehta filed petitions drawing attention to illegal mining, deforestation, and the degradation of ecological balance in the Aravallis. In the landmark 2009 judgment, the Court prohibited mining in the Haryana portion of the Aravalli hills without prior environmental clearance, rejecting claims that non-forest classification or revenue record nomenclature exempted land from environmental regulation. Subsequent orders in 2010 and 2011 reinforced compliance, monitoring, and rehabilitation measures, with the Court emphasising that ecological impact, rather than ownership or classification, must guide regulatory decisions. Clarifications in 2018 reaffirmed that mining restrictions applied across all ecologically sensitive hill areas irrespective of formal notifications, ensuring the protection of groundwater recharge zones, forests, and wildlife habitats. The November 20, 2025, judgement, which had accepted a committee report defining the Aravalli hills based on elevation, generated widespread concern among experts, environmentalists, and civil society that the ruling could undermine these protections, prompting the Court’s suo motu intervention and the call for a fresh expert review.
The Court has indicated that the expert committee to be constituted will comprise independent specialists with deep knowledge of the Aravalli range’s ecological, hydrological, and cultural dimensions, along with practical experience in conservation, forest management, and ecosystem restoration. The committee is expected to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges and to provide recommendations on regulating mining and safeguarding environmental resources. Until the review is concluded, the Court clarified that all existing mining restrictions remain enforceable, thereby preventing any immediate or unregulated exploitation of the region.
Water Conservationist Calls for Independent Experts in Aravalli Panel to Safeguard Ecology
Reacting to the Court’s suo motu order, renowned water conservationist Rajendra Singh welcomed the decision, describing it as a revival of public hopes that short-term economic considerations would not compromise the ecological well-being of future generations. In a statement dated December 29, 2025, Singh said, “By taking suo motu cognisance of the Aravalli crisis and staying the November 20 ruling, the Supreme Court has revived our hopes. It gives rise to the expectation that today’s greed will not turn into a life-threatening crisis for coming generations. If independent members with knowledge of the Aravalli’s ecological and cultural significance and practical experience in its conservation are included in the expert committee, the exercise could result in a well-considered outcome. The continuation of mining restrictions reflects judicial recognition of concerns relating to wildlife, forests, forest-dependent communities, and local populations. Mining policies framed for the benefit of a few could endanger the ecological balance of the entire Aravalli range. The region requires a healthy and resilient ecosystem rather than mining activity.”
The Supreme Court’s decision ensures that the ongoing debate regarding the legal and ecological definition of the Aravalli hills remains under judicial scrutiny. With the November 20 judgment stayed, the Court has signalled that the scientific, environmental, and legal foundations of Aravalli protection will undergo rigorous assessment before any relaxation of mining restrictions. The expert committee’s recommendations and subsequent judicial review are expected to determine how the Aravallis are defined, the scope of environmental protection they are afforded, and the regulatory approach that will govern land use, mining, and conservation in this historically and ecologically significant mountain range.
– global bihari bureau
