New Delhi, May 28 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed serious concern over continuing illegal mining in the Aravalli hills and gave the Centre a final two-month deadline to arrive at a common definition of the ecologically crucial mountain ranges.

A bench headed by chief justice Bhushan R Gavai told a Centre-led committee that it had already missed its original deadline of July 2024 and gave it a "last opportunity" to complete the task, with no further extensions. The matter has been listed for hearing in July.

"The order is of May 9, 2024. Meanwhile, the states must tell us what action you are taking to ensure illegal mining does not take place," said the bench, which also comprised justice AG Masih.

Senior advocate K Parmeshwar...