In addition to praising the suo motu procedures, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that the November ruling was the subject of "several misconceptions."
The Supreme Court decided to reopen and thoroughly reexamine the controversial question of what constitutes the Aravalli hills and how mining should be regulated in the region on Monday, staying its November 20 ruling that limited the definition of the Aravalli range to landforms rising at least 100 meters above the surrounding terrain.
A bench made up of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih, heard the case suo motu and directed that the November verdict be "put in abeyance" till the court thoroughly examined the problems with the help of subject matter experts. The bench also proposed the constitution of a high-powered expert committee to assess concerns relating to the height-based definition, ecological continuity, and permissible mining.
We believe that a fair, unbiased, and independent assessment of the relevant issues is necessary. During the hearing, which resulted from actions the court took on its own initiative on December 27, CJI Kant noted that several clarifications were necessary.
The mapping and delineation process, which was started by the Union Environment Ministry and state governments to identify Aravalli areas strictly based on the now-stayed 100-meter elevation criterion, is also likely to be halted by the interim stay. This process was intended to serve as the basis for future mining decisions in the area.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, praised the suo motu proceedings during Monday's session and stated that there were "several misconceptions" regarding the November ruling. He emphasized that the previous decision had accepted the findings of an expert committee constituted by the court and had envisioned a comprehensive mining plan to be created by experts, which would only be put into action upon Supreme Court permission. Mehta went on to say that before completing any mining plan, the government has also made the decision to hold public discussions.
The elevation-based definition raised a number of structural and ecological issues that the bench pointed out. These included whether the protected area is properly narrowed by limiting the Aravallis to formations rising 100 meters or higher;
"For example, what about a 700-meter distance between two areas that are 100 meters and higher?" highlighted the danger of breaking apart a continuous biological system by asking the bench.
The bench also expressed worries about how the ancient mountain range's ecological continuity would be maintained and whether a new, more comprehensive assessment would be necessary in the event that a major regulatory gap that could jeopardize the Aravallis' structural integrity was found.
The bench stated that in light of these unanswered problems, it suggested creating a powerful committee of subject matter experts to evaluate the previous expert report and help the court develop a more comprehensive structure. The bench urged all stakeholders to assist it in deciding the composition of the committee.
The court ordered the Union government to submit its answer before deciding on the panel's composition at the Solicitor General's request. The Union government, the relevant Aravalli states, and senior attorney Parameshwar, who had previously provided amicus curiae assistance to the court, have also received notices. The Attorney General and the Solicitor General will support the bench during the proceedings.
The bench postponed the case until January 21, 2026, stating, "In the interim, we direct that the recommendations of the committee and the findings of the Supreme Court thereafter shall remain in abeyance."
In response to mounting criticism of the November 20 ruling, which had adopted an expert committee's recommendation to define the Aravallis solely on the basis of elevation, the suo motu proceedings were started on December 27. According to that definition, the Aravalli hills are limited to formations that rise at least 100 meters above the local relief, measured from the lowest contour around the landform to its summit.
Large areas of smaller hills, ridges, and undulating terrain that are a part of the Aravalli range's continuous geological and ecological system were left out by this strategy, potentially making them vulnerable to mining and development, environmental scientists and conservationists have warned.
After the Union environment ministry called a meeting on December 8 to start laying the foundation for defining Aravalli areas "as per the definition accepted by the SC on November 20," with state governments and the Survey of India assigned to map qualifying landforms, the controversy grew more heated. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) planned to use the exercise as a starting point for creating a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM).
That demarcation process is anticipated to be halted until the Supreme Court resolves the definition issue, as the November ruling has been delayed.
One of the oldest fold mountains in the world, the Aravalli range spans more than 700 kilometers from eastern Gujarat to Delhi via Rajasthan and Haryana and is vital to the environment. In an otherwise arid area, it sustains a rich ecology of flora and animals, helps replenish groundwater, and serves as a natural barrier against desertification.
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