Supreme Court Constitutes 5-member High Powered Committee To Define Aravalli Range

The Supreme Court of India has constituted a five-member High Powered Committee for defining the Aravalli Hills. The proposed Committee comprises of experts possessing diverse and multidisciplinary expertise across a broad spectrum of relevant fields, inter alia, the geological and soil characteristics of the region, its biodiversity, flora and fauna, mineral wealth and natural resources, as well as the scientific and accurate geo mapping of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges.

Accordingly, the CJI Surya Kant led bench has directed that the Committee shall comprise of the Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) as ex officio Chairperson and the following as members: Dr. Subhash Ashutosh, Ex-Director General, Forest Survey of India; Dr. Rajendra Kumar Sharma, Director (Retd.), Geological Survey of India; Brij Mohan Singh Rathore, Former Joint Secretary, MoEFCC – Member; and, Prof. Ashok K. Bhatnagar, Former Professor and Head of Botany at Delhi University.

Special Invitees, have also been named, who shall also be associated from time to time by the Chairperson of the Committee: Professor Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Dean, School of Environment and Sustainability, Indian Institute for Human Settlements; and Professor (Dr.) Laxmikant Sharma, Professor, Central University of Haryana.

In addition, an officer of the rank of Director in the MoEFCC shall be nominated by the Government of India to serve as the Member Secretary. Further, the High-Powered Committee so constituted shall be at liberty to associate any other domain expert(s) as may be required for the effective discharge of its functions.

The High-Powered Committee has been given the liberty to examine additional issues or factors bearing upon the subject matter of its mandate. The High-Powered Committee is directed to submit its comprehensive report before 31.08.2026.

Last month, a CJI Surya Kant led bench had refused to pass any orders in favour of mining lease holders for now owing to "quite disturbing" feedback it has been receiving regarding mining in the Aravalli hills and range.

In February, while hearing its suo motu proceedings on the definition and demarcation of the Aravalli Hills, Court had directed that status quo on mining and related activities will remain in force until an expert committee is constituted and preliminary issues are addressed.

Earlier court had requested the Union Ministry concerned to suggest a panel of domain experts along with their profiles. Senior counsel appearing in the matter were also asked to propose names of eminent experts for consideration by the Court for constitution of a committee, as previously indicated.

In its order, the Court had recorded that it was “conscious of the fact that all activities, especially mining, for which license/lease etc. and necessary permissions were granted have come to be at a halt.” However, it directed that “such status quo would have to be maintained for the time being till some of the preliminary issues are effectively answered after the constitution of the committee.”

Court made it clear that the pause on mining and allied activities would continue until the expert body is formed and foundational questions relating to the definition and extent of the Aravalli ranges are examined in a phased manner. The suo motu case arises from concerns regarding conflicting definitions and demarcations of the Aravalli Hills, which have direct implications for environmental regulation, land use controls and mining permissions across affected regions.

In December 2025, the Court had said that the expert committee report accepted earlier by the Court, along with certain judicial observations flowing from it, may have led to “misunderstood notions” that require clarification before any implementation. The Court had earlier declined to impose a blanket ban on mining in the Aravalli region, observing that total prohibitions often end up encouraging illegal mining rather than curbing environmental damage.

Notably, in November 2025, the Supreme Court had directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) through Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) for the entire Aravalis, i.e., understood as the continuous geological ridge extending from Gujarat to Delhi.

Case Title: In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues

Bench: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Pancholi

Order Date: May 15, 2026