SC must stop retrospective environmental approvals, Sariska boundary revision: Jairam Ramesh

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday (December 30, 2025) urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of three other “urgent” environmental issues, including redrawing of Sariska tiger reserve boundaries.

The Congress general secretary, in a post on

The former Environment Minister said the earlier decision was “enthusiastically adopted by the Modi government”.

“Now, three more urgent tasks await the Supreme Court in relation to environmental issues, which also need to be addressed suo moto, like the Aravallis issue,” he said.

Mr. Ramesh said that on August 6, the court had put on hold the proposal of the Rajasthan government and the Government of India to redraw the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve to enable the reopening of about 57 closed mines. He argued that this proposal should be categorically rejected.

He added that the Supreme Court on November 18 opened the door to review its previous decision of May 16 banning retroactive environmental approvals.

“Such approvals are against the fundamentals of law and make a mockery of the administration. There was no need for scrutiny. Retroactive approvals should never be allowed,” Mr. Ramesh said.

He also said that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established by an Act of Parliament in October 2010, after detailed consultations with the Supreme Court and with its full backing and support. According to the Congress leader, its powers have been completely diluted in the last decade.

“The Supreme Court’s intervention is now vital to ensure that the NGT is allowed to function lawfully without fear or favour,” he said.

The apex court, in its verdict on November 20, disregarded directions accepting the uniform definition of Aravalli hills and mountain ranges suggested by a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

He also suggested constituting a high-powered committee of experts in the field to undertake a comprehensive and holistic review of the issue.