The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Rajasthan Government’s notification de-notifying 732 hectares of the National Chambal Sanctuary without prior approval of the Court, observing that the State “could not have done it on their own.” A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, which is seized of a suo motu case concerning illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary and the resultant threat to endangered aquatic wildlife including gharials, expressed strong disapproval of the State’s unilateral action. Justice Mehta remarked that the de-notification was illegal and that the State should have approached the Court first, adding that the fragile ecosystem of the Chambal is under severe threat due to rampant illegal mining. He highlighted videos showing earthmovers extracting sand from the riverbed while animals move around, with mining activities brazenly passing through police stations and outposts. The bench also noted the strong presence of the mining mafia in the region, which has even led to the killing of several SDMs, police officials, and forest officers in Rajasthan. Justice Mehta emphasised that preventive detention laws can be effectively used to curb the mafia, citing the example of how the problem was controlled in Jaisalmer once such measures were invoked.

Senior Advocate Nikhil Goel, appearing as amicus curiae, informed the Court that a joint committee report filed before the National Green Tribunal had identified precise GPS coordinates of illegal sand mining sites in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan since 2022, and that the States are yet to file their affidavits detailing steps taken. He also pointed out that while Madhya Pradesh has notified its eco-sensitive zones, Rajasthan has not done so till date. The bench granted four weeks to Madhya Pradesh to file its affidavit and requested the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to take instructions on the matter. It directed that the Rajasthan Government’s de-notification dated 23 December 2025, notified on 9 March 2026 under Section 18 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, shall remain stayed in the meantime. The Court also transferred to itself the illegal sand mining matter of 2022 pending before the National Green Tribunal. The matter will now be heard on 11 May 2026.

Case Title: In Re: Illegal Sand Mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary and Threat to Endangered Aquatic Wildlife
Case No.: SMW(C) No. 2/2026