Environmental activist and lawyer Hitendra Gandhi has approached the Chief Justice of India and President Droupadi Murmu, urging reconsideration of a recent Supreme Court ruling that restricts the definition of "Aravalli" to landforms rising at least 100 metres above surrounding terrain. In his letter, Gandhi warned that this narrow, height-based criterion could inadvertently dilute environmental safeguards across the ecologically fragile Aravalli range spanning Northwest India. The plea seeks to address widespread concerns that the decision risks opening vast areas to mining, construction, and other exploitative activities previously protected under broader interpretations.
The controversy stems from the Supreme Court's November 2025 order in a long-pending case involving mining in Haryana's Aravalli region. By adopting a strict elevation threshold, the bench effectively excluded lower hills and ridges long considered part of the range, prompting protests from conservationists, local communities, and state governments. Gandhi argued that the Aravallis' ecological value lies in its continuous biodiversity corridor, water recharge functions, and role as a natural barrier against desertification, not merely peak heights. He emphasised that a rigid metric ignores geological continuity and historical notifications, recognising the range's expansive footprint.
Gandhi's intervention highlights fears that the ruling could undermine decades of legal protections, including the 1992 ban on mining in notified Aravalli areas and subsequent environment ministry guidelines. Activists claim lower-lying sections, though not towering, are critical for groundwater replenishment and wildlife habitats, with degradation already exacerbating dust storms and water scarcity in Delhi-NCR. Copies of the letter have circulated widely, amplifying calls for a review to prevent irreversible damage.
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The Supreme Court had aimed to resolve ambiguities in defining the range amid conflicting claims from miners and developers. However, the decision has reignited debates on balancing development with conservation in one of India's oldest hill systems.
As environmental groups rally support, the activist's appeal underscores urgent calls for holistic criteria incorporating ecology over topography alone. With the matter likely to return to the apex court, stakeholders await potential suo motu action or a review petition to safeguard the Aravallis' integrity.
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