Supreme Court Maintains Status Quo on Aravalli Hills Definition Indefinitely
A three-judge bench led by CJI Surya Kant continues the interim order halting the revised Aravalli Hills definition to preserve the status quo.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended its stay on an earlier judgement that prescribed a revised definition of the Aravalli Hills, directing that the existing status quo be maintained until further orders. The decision ensures that no changes will be made to the current understanding of the Aravalli range while the matter remains under judicial consideration.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant ruled that the interim direction, which had kept the revised definition in abeyance, would continue to operate. The court did not specify a timeline for a final decision, indicating that the issue would be examined in greater detail at a later stage.
The case assumes significance given the ecological importance of the Aravalli Range, which is considered one of the oldest mountain systems in the world. Stretching across several states, the range serves as a crucial natural barrier and plays a vital role in sustaining the environment of the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that the Aravallis are under severe threat due to factors such as deforestation, illegal mining, overgrazing, and large-scale human encroachment. Any dilution or alteration of the hills’ legal definition, they argue, could weaken existing protections and accelerate environmental degradation in an already fragile region.
The Supreme Court’s decision to maintain the status quo is seen as a precautionary step aimed at preventing irreversible damage while legal and scientific aspects of the definition are reviewed. The outcome of the case is expected to have far-reaching implications for environmental regulation, land use, and conservation efforts linked to the Aravalli ecosystem.
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