Supreme Court to hear suo motu case on Aravalli Hills mining and definition on Monday

Supreme Court to hear suo motu case on Aravalli Hills mining and definition on Monday

• Supreme Court to hear case on Aravalli Hills definition and mining activities
• Environmentalists seek stronger protection for ecologically sensitive areas.
• Centre proposes 100m elevation rule, sparking concerns over weakened safeguards

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The Supreme Court will hear a suo motu case on Monday concerning mining activities and the definition of the Aravalli Hills. This move has renewed hopes among environmental activists seeking stronger protection for the ecologically sensitive range.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices J K Maheshwari and A G Masih, will take up the matter titled “In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues”, according to the causelist published on the apex court’s website.

The court’s decision to take up the matter on its own motion follows growing concern over the implications of its November 20 order, in which it accepted recommendations made by a panel of the Union environment ministry on how the Aravalli Hills should be defined.

In an affidavit submitted earlier, the Centre had proposed that only landforms with an elevation of 100 metres or more above the local relief, along with their slopes and adjoining areas, be classified as part of the Aravalli range. The recommendation had sparked apprehension among conservationists, who fear it could weaken safeguards for large portions of the ancient hill system.

Former forest conservation officer R P Balwan has also filed a petition before the Supreme Court in connection with the issue, raising concerns over environmental protection and the potential impact of mining activities.

The hearing takes place amid heightened scrutiny of mining in the Aravalli range, which spans from Delhi to Gujarat. The Centre has already ordered a complete ban on new mining leases across the region and reiterated that existing mining operations must strictly comply with environmental safeguards and previous Supreme Court directives.

The Supreme Court’s suo motu intervention is being closely watched, with stakeholders hoping it could lead to clearer definitions and stronger measures to preserve the fragile Aravalli ecosystem.