Supreme Court pauses its own judgment defining Aravalli
The Supreme Court on Monday said that certain clarifications were necessary regarding the definitions it recently approved for the Aravalli Hills, while staying a ruling passed last month on the issue.
Hence, the Supreme Court has “put in abeyance” its earlier decision (issued on November 20) to accept the Central Environment Ministry’s definition of Aravalli Hills and Aravalli Range. Acceptance of the said definition by the top court in November had exposed most of the Aravalli region to the possibility of being used for regulated mining activities.
The Supreme Court said that the environmental impact of recommendations made by an earlier panel on the Aravalli range must be examined by a committee of experts, noting that the previous panel was largely composed of bureaucrats.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.G. Masih made the observation while staying the recent ruling on the Aravalli region.
The ruling had relied on the recommendations of a committee formed to define the Aravalli range for the purpose of regulating mining activities.
The Court has also issued notice to the Centre and the four Aravalli States – Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Haryana, seeking their response to its suo motu case on the issue.
The Supreme Court said that a fair and independent expert assessment is necessary before implementing either the earlier committee’s report or the court’s judgment on the Aravalli range, citing serious environmental and regulatory concerns.