Aravalli Row: Supreme Court Asks Environment Ministry for Expert Panel Names
A vacation bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice J.K. Maheshwari, and Justice A.G. Masih directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and other stakeholders to suggest names of domain experts for a new expert panel that will define the boundaries of the Aravalli Hills and Aravalli Range.
The court "put in abeyance" (suspended) its earlier November 2025 order that had accepted the Central Environment Ministry's definition of the Aravalli Hills, after concerns were raised that the definition was too narrow and would expose large portions of the ecologically sensitive range to mining and real estate development.
The amicus curiae submitted suggestions to the bench on the aspect of definitions of the Aravalli hills and ranges; contesting parties were directed to submit written notes by 10 March 2026, with no further extensions permitted.
The court maintained a status quo order — halting all activities including mining in the disputed areas — until the expert panel's findings are accepted and a definitive boundary is established.
States have until end of March 2026 to submit their positions.
Aravalli Range: Ecological and Geological Significance
The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest geological formations on Earth, estimated to be approximately 1.5–2 billion years old — predating the Himalayas by over a billion years. Stretching approximately 692 km from Gujarat through Rajasthan, Haryana, and into Delhi, it serves multiple critical ecological functions that extend far beyond the hills themselves.
The definition of "Aravalli" is not merely geographical — it determines which land parcels are protected from mining and construction. A narrower definition (accepted by the Ministry in November 2025) would have removed protection from thousands of hills, enabling mining and real estate development with devastating ecological consequences.
Supreme Court's Role in Environmental Governance: Key Precedents
The Supreme Court of India has been a primary driver of environmental protection, often acting where the executive and legislature have been slow. The Aravalli case is part of a long line of judicial interventions on forest and land degradation.
The SC's decision to stay its own November 2025 order and constitute an independent expert panel is unusual and significant — it signals that the court believes the Ministry's definition was potentially environment-compromising, and that technical expertise (ecology, geology, hydrology) must inform legal boundaries.
Mining Regulation and Forest Governance in India
Mining in ecologically sensitive areas is governed by a complex web of statutes: the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957, the Forest Conservation Act 1980, the Environment Protection Act 1986, and state-specific mining regulations.
Key Details
- MMDR Act 1957 (amended 2021, 2023): Governs exploration and mining leases; amended to allow commercial mining in coal and extend auction mechanisms to all minerals
- Forest Conservation Act 1980: Any diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes (including mining) requires prior approval of the Central Government — the "forest clearance" process
- Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006: Mining projects above threshold capacity require Environmental Clearance (EC) and public consultation
- Category A (large mining) projects require approval from Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under MoEFCC
- Designated Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ): Buffer zones around Protected Areas where mining is prohibited or heavily restricted; ESZ notifications for Aravalli regions remain incomplete
- Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA): Funds collected from industries for forest diversion must be used for afforestation; total corpus exceeded ₹50,000 crore
The Aravalli boundary definition directly determines the applicability of Forest Conservation Act protections and EIA requirements. If an area is outside the "Aravalli" boundary, mining companies can seek clearances that would otherwise be far more difficult or impossible to obtain.
Environmental Federalism and Centre-State Disputes
The Aravalli case highlights a recurring tension in Indian environmental governance: states prioritise economic development (mining revenues, real estate) while the Centre's constitutional obligations and court mandates push for environmental protection.
Key Details
- Schedule VII (Constitution): "Forests" is a Concurrent List subject (Entry 17A) — both Centre and states can legislate, but Central law prevails in conflict
- Rajasthan and Haryana position: Both states have historically pressed for narrower Aravalli definitions to enable mining and development
- Delhi's position: Supports broader protection as Aravallis are critical for Delhi's groundwater and air quality
- Principal stakeholders in the SC case: States of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Delhi; Central Government (MoEFCC); mining industry associations; environmental NGOs
- Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land): India's Aravalli degradation directly contradicts SDG 15 commitments on halting land degradation and restoring ecosystems
The court's direction to the Ministry (rather than accepting the Ministry's own definition) reflects a judicial check on executive discretion in environmental matters, particularly where state-level economic interests may have influenced the Central Ministry's position.
- Aravalli Range length: 692 km (Gujarat to Delhi)
- Age: ~1.5–2 billion years (among world's oldest mountain systems)
- Highest peak: Guru Shikhar, Rajasthan (1,722 m)
- SC bench: Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.G. Masih
- SC action: Stayed own November 2025 order accepting MoEFCC's definition; directing expert panel formation
- Status quo: Mining activities halted until further orders
- Written notes deadline: 10 March 2026 (amicus); end of March 2026 (parties)
- Forest Survey data: Only 1,048 of 12,081 mapped hills meet the 100m relief criterion (8.7%)
- MMDR Act 1957: Primary legislation for mining regulation
- Forest Conservation Act 1980: Governs forest land diversion