Supreme Court Puts Aravalli Protection Orders on Hold, Goes For Fresh Expert Review

The Supreme Court on Monday said that its earlier directions related to the protection of the Aravalli hills will remain on hold until a fresh expert committee is formed.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said a new high-powered committee of domain experts will conduct a detailed, multi-temporal study of the Aravalli hills and ranges. The court said this step is necessary to safeguard the structural and ecological integrity of the Aravallis, which act as the only natural barrier preventing the Thar desert from advancing towards the fertile Gangetic plains.

Supreme Court flags misinterpretation of earlier findings

The bench observed that the earlier report submitted by an expert committee, along with the court’s observations, appeared to have been “misconstrued” in some sections. The court said it would be inappropriate to enforce recommendations or issue final directions without first examining a fresh, independent and unbiased expert assessment.

The apex court stressed that environmental decisions of such magnitude must rely on sound scientific analysis rather than selective interpretation. It said a fair and transparent evaluation is essential before taking any irreversible steps affecting the Aravalli ecosystem.

Protests triggered suo motu proceedings

The court noted that the suo motu case was initiated after protests raised concerns that its earlier decision could pose a serious threat to the fragile Aravalli mountain ecosystem.

Last month, the Supreme Court had approved an elevation-based definition to identify Aravalli landforms for regulating mining activities. However, several reports warned that this definition could potentially exclude more than 90 per cent of the Aravalli range from mining restrictions, triggering public outcry and environmental concerns.

Fresh expert panel to reassess Aravalli protection

The case, titled In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues, deals with long-standing concerns over degradation of the Aravalli landscape due to mining, construction and deforestation.

Earlier, on November 20, the Supreme Court had accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges and imposed a temporary ban on the grant of new mining leases across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The ban was to remain in force until expert studies were completed.

The court had also endorsed recommendations made by a committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to protect the world’s oldest mountain range.

What the earlier definition proposed

Under the MoEF&CC panel’s recommendations:

• An “Aravalli Hill” was defined as any landform in notified Aravalli districts rising 100 metres or more above the surrounding terrain.
• An “Aravalli Range” was defined as a cluster of two or more such hills located within 500 metres of each other.

Directions paused until new report

With Monday’s order, the Supreme Court has paused the implementation of its earlier directions until the newly constituted expert committee submits its findings.

The court said it will reconsider the matter after receiving a comprehensive and scientifically robust report, which will form the basis for any final directions on mining and environmental protection in the Aravalli region.

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