In Re : Issue Relating To Definition Of Aravali Hills & Range 2025 INSC 1338
Environmental Law -Aravali Hills and Ranges exhibit ecological fragility, and it is also an area comprising of significant biodiversity. Not only that it acts as a green barrier thereby preventing desertification in the IndoGangetic plains, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh (Para 35). Supreme Court accepted (1) Recommendations made by the Committee with regard to the definition of Aravali Hills and Ranges given by MoEF&CC (2) the recommendations with regard to the prohibition of mining in core/inviolate areas with exception as carved out in paragraph 7.3.1 of the Committee’s Report (3) the recommendations for sustainable mining in Aravali Hills and Ranges and the steps to be taken for preventing illegal mining in Aravali Hills and Ranges; Further Directions issued. (Para 50)
Case Info
Case: In Re: Issue Relating to Definition of Aravali Hills and Ranges; Neutral citation: 2025 INSC 1338.
Key Details
- Case name: In Re: Issue Relating to Definition of Aravali Hills and Ranges (I.A. No.105701 of 2024 in Writ Petition (C) No.202 of 1995; In Re: T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India and Others)
- Neutral citation: 2025 INSC 1338
- Coram: B.R. Gavai, CJI; K. Vinod Chandran, J.; N.V. Anjaria, J.
- Judgment date: November 20, 2025
Caselaws and citations
- M.C. Mehta v. Union of India and Others, WP(C) No.4677 of 1985 (referenced for Aravalli mining issues)
- T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India and Others, WP(C) No.202 of 1995 (present proceedings umbrella)
- State of Bihar and Others v. Pawan Kumar and Others, (2022) 2 SCC 348 (on consequences of complete mining bans)
- Supreme Court orders noted:
- Order dated 10 January 2024 (CEC examination and bench consolidation)
- Order dated 9 May 2024 (committee to define Aravali; interim directions)
- Reference to judgment/order dated 10 November 2021 in C.A. No.3661-3662/2020 (mining ban not conducive)
- Reference to judgment/order dated 13 November 2025 (Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary, MPSM approach)
Statutes/laws referred
- UNCCD: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (Articles 4, 5, 10(2)(c), 10(4))
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 (Section 3(2)(v), Section 5(1))
- MMDR Act, 1957 (First Schedule Part B: Atomic minerals; Part D: Critical and Strategic minerals; Seventh Schedule)
- Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017
- Institutional frameworks referenced: MoEF&CC, FSI, CEC, ICFRE, GSI, SPCB, National CAMPA
