After insisting in an affidavit last month that the rationalisation of Sariska Tiger Reserve’s Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) boundaries was “a comprehensive process… strictly in statutory compliance,” the Environment ministry submitted a note Monday to the Supreme Court, agreeing to invite objections and reconsider the rationalisation plan “with a view to comply with the applicable laws.”On June 22, The Indian Express was the first to report how the proposed rationalisation of Sariska boundaries could offer a lifeline to over 50 marble and dolomite mines that were closed following a Supreme Court order last May due to their proximity to the CTH.On June 23, Rajasthan State Wildlife Board (SWLB) cleared the rationalisation plan, which then secured the approval of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in less than 48 hours. The very next day, on July 26, the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) gave its nod, completing the approval process in just four days.In July, petitioner Sneha Solanki of Alwar-based non-profit Tiger Trails Trust moved the SC against the proposed rationalisation, followed by Neelam Ahluwalia Nakra of Gurgaon-based People for Aravallis and three other petitioners in August.Asked to file a reply, the Environment ministry submitted on August 11 that the boundary process was “grounded in scientific and conservation-based rationale… strictly in statutory compliance,” and objections would be invited from stakeholders after the plan was approved by the SC. The reply also said that “there appears to be no legal requirement for consultation with gram sabhas.”On Monday, however, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing Rajasthan and the Environment ministry,respectively, placed a one-page note across the bar, conceding that the apex court’s December 2024 order had made issuing a draft notification for public consultation mandatory.The note further said: “With a view to allay any apprehensions of the stakeholder and with a view to comply with the applicable law, objections will be invited… and the final decision will be taken after considering the objections” and, if necessary, “will also be placed before the NBWL” again. After the completion of this process, it said, the final proposal will be submitted for the SC’s approval.Story continues below this adThe court noted the same in its order uploaded today and will hear the matter again in the second week of December.Before the apparent climbdown, the petitioners pointed out several inconsistencies in the ministry’s August 11 reply, amounting to procedural lapses.With the December 2025 deadline mentioned in the SC’s 2024 order still six months away, the petitioners flagged how the approval process was rushed to clear the plan in just four days.They also pointed out that issuing the draft notification for inviting objections from stakeholders after the SC’s approval was contrary to the SC’s December 2024 order.Story continues below this ad“The court has not gone into the merits of the rationalisation plan. At this stage, we are looking to fix a few procedural issues. We also need clarity on requiring Gram Sabha consent under the FRA (Forest Rights Act) for adding areas (to the CTH),” said an Environment ministry official.The issue dates back to a 2023 suo motu case in the SC, regarding unrestricted entry of people on foot and private vehicles inside Sariska Tiger Reserve. In March 2024, the court asked its Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to submit a report on the issue.Reconstituted in September 2023 under the Environment ministry, the CEC expanded the scope of the report by including other issues such as village relocation, cattle grazing, staff strength and boundary demarcation.The issue of mining, however, was only mentioned once in the CEC’s 79-page report: “The illegal mining activities are because of the poor demarcation.”Story continues below this adAfter Rajasthan accepted the CEC’s July 2024 report in September, the Supreme Court asked the state in December to follow legal procedures and complete the boundary rationalisation process within a year, subject to its final approval.Under the rationalisation plan prepared by a panel set up by Rajasthan, the new CTH boundaries would retreat in multiple stretches, putting around 50 mines outside the one-kilometre no-mining zone from the boundary.Of the 100 marble, dolomite, limestone and masonic stone quarries around Sariska, 43 had already been non-operational due to a lack of permits and other reasons, while 57 active mines were closed under a SC order last May.