In a significant development concerning the protection of one of India’s most ancient and ecologically critical mountain ranges, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed its own order issued on November 20 regarding the definition of the Aravalli hills and range. The vacation bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih, has also ordered the formation of a new expert committee to examine the complex issues surrounding the definition.
The court clarified that its November 20 directions would be kept in abeyance, stating that "clarifications are necessary on the definitions approved earlier" and that "there are issues that will require clarification." Notices have been issued to the Centre and the four Aravalli states—Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, and Haryana—seeking their responses in the suo motu case initiated by the court.
Government Welcomes Move, Reaffirms Mining Ban
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision. In a social media post, Mr. Yadav stated that the government is committed to providing all assistance sought from his ministry for the "protection and restoration of the Aravalli range." He crucially added that, as of now, "a complete ban on mining remains in force for new mining leases as well as the renewal of existing ones."
This affirmation aligns with the Ministry’s directions issued on December 24 to the Aravalli states, mandating a uniform prohibition on granting any new mining leases across the entire Aravalli landscape to preserve the range's integrity.
Genesis of the Review: A Controversial Definition
The Supreme Court’s suo motu cognizance on Saturday came amid mounting criticism from environmentalists and opposition parties. The controversy centers on the Centre’s newly notified definition of the Aravalli mountain range, reportedly based on a 100-meter height criterion. Critics argue that such a narrow definition could exclude vast stretches of the ecologically fragile Aravalli ecosystem—including low hills, rocky outcrops, and scrub forests—from legal protection, leaving them vulnerable to real estate, mining, and other developmental pressures.
The Aravalli range, a 670-kilometer-long chain running from Delhi through Haryana and Rajasthan to Gujarat, is India’s oldest fold mountain system, dating back nearly two billion years. It acts as a vital green barrier against the encroaching Thar Desert, a major groundwater recharge zone for the plains, and a biodiversity hotspot. Its highest peak is Guru Shikhar (1,722 meters) in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
The Road Ahead
The Supreme Court’s decision to pause its earlier verdict and constitute a fresh expert committee marks a pivotal moment in the long-standing battle for the Aravallis’ conservation. It underscores the judicial recognition of the technical complexities and high stakes involved in defining what constitutes the "Aravalli range" for regulatory purposes.
The newly formed committee’s mandate will be scrutinized intensely. Its examination of the "definition of Aravallis" will effectively shape the future of conservation policy for the region. The outcome will determine which landscapes receive the highest level of protection under existing forest and environmental laws.
All eyes will now be on the expert committee’s composition and terms of reference, as its findings are likely to form the bedrock of the Supreme Court’s final ruling, balancing ecological imperatives with regulatory clarity in the stewardship of this ancient, vulnerable mountain range.
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