Aravalli hills: Supreme Court to constitute expert committee to stop mining, see details
During the hearing on the Aravalli hills in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, the bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi said that it would constitute an expert committee to stop the mining. The court took a guarantee from the Rajasthan government that no mining would be allowed in the Aravalli region.
CJI Surya Kant said that illegal mining is still going on despite the ban. This will create a situation that cannot be rectified.
Objective is to protect the Aravalli mountain range: SC
The bench said protecting the Aravalli range is crucial. The top court said, "The objective is to protect the Aravalli mountain range."
The bench further stated, "Considering the points highlighted in the suo motu order of December 29, 2025, there may be a need for an independent expert body to review the scientific, environmental, geological, and legal aspects related to the definition of the Aravalli range."
The court had earlier ordered mining on smaller hills, but later withdrew the order. In its order issued on November 20, the Supreme Court had ordered mining on hills smaller than 100 meters. This had sparked a controversy across the country regarding the definition of 100 meters.
On November 29, the court stayed its own order. While directing the formation of an expert committee to investigate the matter, the court also issued notices to the central government and the four states bordering the Aravalli range (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, and Haryana), seeking their responses on the issue.