Supreme Court Takes Action on Aravalli Hills: What You Need to Know
Supreme Court's Initiative on Aravalli Hills
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has initiated suo motu proceedings regarding the definition of the Aravalli hills and their ranges.
According to the court's published schedule, a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.G. Masih, will address the writ petition titled “In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues” on December 29. This action comes amid rising concerns about the ecological preservation of the Aravalli range.
In a proactive measure to combat illegal mining and enhance ecological safeguards, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has instructed state authorities to enforce a complete ban on new mining leases within the Aravalli region.
This ban will be uniformly applied across the entire Aravalli landscape, extending from Delhi to Gujarat. The Ministry emphasized that the goal is to maintain the integrity of the range as a continuous geological formation and to eliminate unregulated mining activities.
Additionally, the MoEF&CC has directed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify further areas within the Aravalli range where mining should be prohibited, beyond the already restricted zones.
This identification process will consider ecological, geological, and landscape factors, as stated by the Ministry.
The ICFRE is also responsible for developing a comprehensive, science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli region, which will be made available for public consultation.
The Ministry's plan aims to evaluate cumulative environmental impacts, assess ecological carrying capacity, and identify conservation-critical areas while proposing restoration and rehabilitation measures.
For existing mines, the Centre has mandated that state governments ensure strict adherence to all environmental regulations in line with the Supreme Court's directives.
On Friday, Rajasthan's Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma criticized the Congress party for hypocrisy and misinformation, asserting that the BJP government is dedicated to protecting the Aravalli range and its ecological, cultural, and religious importance.
Protests have erupted in various districts of Rajasthan, including Udaipur, Jodhpur, Sikar, and Alwar, against the approval of mining activities in the Aravalli mountain range, with demonstrators calling for the withdrawal of the Supreme Court's order and warning of escalated protests.
A Supreme Court ruling from November 20, 2025, states that only landforms with an elevation of 100 meters or more will be recognized as Aravalli hills. Environmentalists argue that this definition excludes over 90% of the range from protection, raising significant concerns.
Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav has attempted to clarify the situation through a letter titled “Ek Patti Alwar Ke Naam,” assuring that the Aravalli range is secure and stating that the Supreme Court's decision balances environmental protection, illegal mining prevention, and developmental needs.
In response to concerns from various groups, the minister highlighted that Alwar is a vital part of the Aravalli mountain range, home to significant natural and heritage sites like the Sariska Tiger Reserve and Siliserh Lake.
He reiterated that the conservation and development of these areas are non-negotiable, emphasizing the government's commitment to maintaining the ecological balance of the Aravalli region while promoting lawful and sustainable development.