In a significant move to protect the ecologically sensitive Aravali hills, the Supreme Court of India has directed the maintenance of status quo until further orders. The apex court bench, presided over by Chief Justice Suryakant, issued strict instructions to state governments to halt all illegal mining activities in the region immediately.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the three-judge bench emphasized the formation of a high-level expert committee under its direct supervision. ‘We will constitute a committee comprising specialists from relevant fields. This panel will submit a comprehensive report on the Aravali range and operate strictly under the court’s guidance,’ CJI Suryakant stated.
Senior advocate Raju Ramchandran, representing Rajasthan farmers, highlighted ongoing violations despite a 2024 order by the Justice Oka bench. He pointed out that mining leases were still being granted and trees were being felled indiscriminately. The court expressed grave concern, terming illegal mining a serious crime with potentially devastating consequences.
Directing officials to activate their machinery, the bench warned of the destructive fallout from unchecked extraction. All parties have been asked to nominate names of environmentalists, scientists, and mining experts for the committee. The court clarified that issues of defining ‘forests’ and ‘Aravali’ would be examined separately.
Amicus curiae K. Parameshwar has been granted four weeks to file a detailed note on the Aravali definition. This comes after the court had previously stayed its own directives on altering hill definitions. The ruling underscores the judiciary’s commitment to preserving this vital green lung amid mounting environmental threats.