Supreme Court Stays Its Own Order on Aravalli Hills Definition; Mining Ban Extended Until January 21

Bench led by CJI Surya Kant seeks responses from Rajasthan and three other states; new expert committee to be formed

New Delhi, December 30, 2025 – In a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court on Monday placed its own November ruling on the Aravalli Hills definition in abeyance, responding to widespread protests and environmental concerns that the earlier order could have opened vast stretches of the ecologically sensitive mountain range to mining activities.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice J.K. Maheshwari, and Justice Augustine George Masih passed the stay order in a suo motu case, observing that both the expert committee’s recommendations and the Court’s own directions were being misconstrued and required significant clarification before implementation.

“We deem it necessary to direct that the recommendations submitted by the committee, together with the findings and directions stipulated by this Court in the judgment of November 20, 2025, be kept in abeyance,” the bench stated, while issuing notices to the Centre and state governments of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

November Ruling Sparked Controversy

The Supreme Court had on November 20 accepted an elevation-based definition for the Aravalli Hills, classifying landforms as part of the range only if they rose 100 meters or more above local terrain. Two or more such hills within 500 meters of each other would constitute an Aravalli Range.

Environmental activists and opposition parties raised alarm that this definition would exclude over 90 percent of the Aravalli range from protected status for mining purposes, potentially legitimizing mining and construction in previously protected areas. The Aravallis, one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges, serve as a critical ecological barrier preventing the spread of the Thar desert into the Indo-Gangetic plains.

Public demonstrations under the #SaveAravalli campaign and interventions by environmental groups prompted the apex court to take suo motu cognizance of the issue.

Key Concerns Requiring Expert Review

Chief Justice Kant outlined several critical issues that necessitated the stay order and formation of a new high-powered expert committee:

• Whether the 500-meter proximity criterion creates a structural paradox by narrowing conservation areas while broadening non-Aravalli zones where regulated mining could occur
• Whether regulated mining should be permitted in gaps exceeding 500 meters between hills
• How to ensure ecological continuity is preserved under the new framework
• Whether the claim that only 1,048 out of 12,081 hills meet the 100-meter threshold is scientifically accurate
• What structural parameters would prevent environmental degradation if sustainable mining is allowed

“An independent, fair and impartial expert assessment is essential,” the Chief Justice emphasized, noting that the previous committee was primarily composed of bureaucrats rather than environmental specialists.

Mining Ban Extended

The Court’s order effectively extends the freeze on issuing new mining leases across the Aravalli region until the matter is next heard on January 21, 2025. This ban, already imposed by the Centre following the November judgment, will remain in force during the interim period.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, reiterating the NDA government’s commitment to protecting and restoring the Aravalli range. “The government stands committed to extending all assistance sought from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in the protection and restoration of the Aravalli range,” Yadav stated on social media platform X.

The Congress party also welcomed the verdict, calling it a “flicker of hope” and stating that the original 100-meter definition would have exposed the sprawling green cover to abuse by mining mafias.

Government’s Position

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, clarified that there were “a lot of misconceptions regarding orders and the government’s role.” He noted that the expert committee was constituted by the Court itself and its report was accepted in good faith.

The Ministry of Environment has directed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to prepare a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli region, including cumulative environmental impact assessments and identification of sensitive zones requiring protection.

Historical Background

The Aravalli issue arose from differing definitions adopted by various states, leading to regulatory gaps and instances of illegal mining. In May 2024, the Supreme Court constituted a committee to develop a uniform definition after noting these inconsistencies in ongoing cases related to M.C. Mehta v. Union of India and T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad v. Union of India.

The November 20 judgment, delivered by a bench headed by then Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, had reasoned that a complete mining ban often leads to illegal mining mafias and criminalization, hence the need for regulated sustainable mining in non-core areas.

However, Monday’s order by the CJI Surya Kant-led bench prioritizes a fresh environmental impact assessment before any final classification is implemented.

What Happens Next

The Supreme Court will constitute a new high-powered expert committee comprising domain specialists to conduct a holistic examination of all previous recommendations and their potential environmental consequences. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on January 21, 2025, when the Court expects clarity on the formation and mandate of this new committee.

Until then, no new mining leases will be granted anywhere in the Aravalli range spanning approximately 800 kilometers across four states. Existing legal mining operations may continue under strict regulatory oversight, though this aspect remains subject to further Court directions.

The Aravalli Hills, formed over 3 billion years ago, support rich biodiversity, prevent desertification, regulate groundwater recharge, and sustain millions of livelihoods across northern India. The Supreme Court’s intervention reflects the delicate balance between environmental protection, mineral resource management, and sustainable development that courts must navigate in the face of competing interests.