New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli hills and ranges, emphasising the need for a scientifically guided approach to protect the ecologically fragile region.
The Aravalli range spans Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
The direction came in a matter dealing with illegal mining, where the Court had earlier noted that different States followed inconsistent definitions of “Aravalli Hills/Ranges.”
In May 2024, the Court constituted a Committee to examine the issue.
The Committee submitted its report in October 2025, recommending uniform definitions and several measures to preserve the Aravalli landscape.
According to the Committee, any landform in the Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above local relief should qualify as an Aravalli Hill.
It further defined the Aravalli Range as two or more Aravalli Hills located within 500 metres of each other, measured from the outermost point of the lowest contour line.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, Justice K. Vinod Chandran, and Justice N.V. Anjaria accepted these definitions and also approved the Committee’s recommendation to prohibit mining in core or inviolate areas.
However, the Court declined to impose complete ban on mining, observing that such prohibitions could fuel illegal mining, mafia and criminality.
“We also accept the recommendations for sustainable mining in the Aravalli Hills and Ranges and the steps to be taken for preventing illegal mining,” the bench said.
The Court noted that although the Committee had taken care to exclude core areas from mining, except for critical, strategic, and atomic minerals, it would be appropriate to conduct a detailed scientific study similar to that carried out for Saranda and Chaibasa forests in Jharkhand by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).
The Court directed the union Government to prepare the MPSM through ICFRE, covering the entire Aravalli system.
The MPSM will serve the purposes of identifying permissible mining zones, conservation-critical areas, ecologically sensitive zones, and restoration-priority regions where mining must be prohibited or allowed only under exceptional, scientifically justified conditions.
It will also incorporate cumulative environmental impact assessments and analyse the ecological carrying capacity of the region.
The Court directed it to provide detailed post-mining restoration and rehabilitation plans.
Until the MPSM is finalised, the Court ordered that no new mining licences be issued.
After its approval, mining will be allowed only in areas declared suitable for sustainable mining under the MPSM.
In the interim, legal mining already in operation may continue, but strictly in accordance with the Committee’s recommendations.
Highlighting the ecological significance of the Aravalli system, home to 22 wildlife sanctuaries, four tiger reserves, the Keoladeo National Park, wetlands such as Sultanpur, Sambhar, Siliserh, and Asola Bhatti, and aquifers that recharge major river basins, the Court said sustainable mining must proceed only after a comprehensive MPSM is prepared. The MoEF&CC may also consider preparing district-level MPSMs, while ensuring the continuity and integrity of the Aravalli chain.
Senior Advocate K. Parameshwar assisted the Court as amicus curiae.
ASG Aishwarya Bhati appeared for the union Government.
Senior Advocate Balbir Singh represented Haryana, while ASG K.M. Natraj appeared for Rajasthan.
