SC Puts November Verdict on Aravalli Hills and Mining on Hold
Supreme Court stays own ruling amid mining concerns.
The Supreme Court on December 29, 2025, stayed key directions from its November 20 judgment that adopted a restricted definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges, placing them in abeyance pending further clarification. A special vacation bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices J K Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih announced the decision during a hearing of the suo motu case titled "In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues."
The court indicated plans to constitute an expert panel to thoroughly examine outstanding questions regarding the height criteria for classifying landforms as part of the Aravallis and the scope of permissible mining activities. This development follows widespread apprehensions that the earlier operational definition could enable unregulated exploitation in ecologically sensitive zones.
The November verdict, delivered by a bench led by former Chief Justice B R Gavai, had endorsed a Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change committee's recommendation defining an "Aravalli Hill" as any landform in designated districts rising at least 100 metres above local relief. An "Aravalli Range" was described as interconnected hills within 500 metres, leading to a temporary ban on new mining leases across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat until final expert assessments.
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The Aravalli system, one of the world's oldest geological formations, extends across multiple states and serves critical functions as a barrier against desertification, biodiversity hotspot, and groundwater recharge zone. Historically recognised in 37 districts, its protection has been deemed essential for national ecological stability, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.
The suo motu intervention reflects judicial recognition of potential risks from the narrower definition, including threats to groundwater levels and increased illegal mining. The stay maintains existing safeguards while the court prepares for a comprehensive reevaluation to balance conservation imperatives with developmental considerations.
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