INTRODUCTION
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India, on December 29, 2025, temporarily set aside its earlier order of November 20, 2025, where it agreed to narrow 100-meter relief for the Aravalli Hills. A vacation bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih, took suo motu cognizance of the widespread opposition from the public. The court highlighted that it was essential for it to avoid “regulatory gaps” that might support “unregulated mining activities” within one of the oldest ranges of mountains in the world, which is also called the “green lungs” of North-Western India.
BACKGROUND
This is an outcome of the long, winding litigation over framing a uniform definition of the Aravalli range across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat to check illegal mining. In May 2024, the court had ordered a committee headed by the Union Environment Secretary to come up with this definition. On November 20, 2025, the court accepted the committee’s recommendation defining an “Aravalli Hill” as any landform with an elevation of 100 metres or more above the local relief. But this triggered a strong opposition from the environmentalists, who contended that the criteria would exclude the vast majority of the range from legal protection.
KEY POINTS
The Supreme Court observed that under the previous definition, “a ‘structural paradox’ has been created in which the territorial ambit covered by the safeguards has been considerably reduced.”
- Scientific Discrepancy: The court pointed out from the FSI (Forest Survey of India) India survey that, of 12,081 hills in the state of Rajasthan, a mere 1,048 (approx. 8.7%) satisfied the 100m criterion.
- Gaps in Protection: The hills were more than 500 meters apart. This would not fall under the definition of range. Thereby, several ranges would be left susceptible to mining. This negatively affected ecological continuity.
- Administrative Oversight: The court clarified that the preceding committee was remade chiefly of administrative officials and did not involve much scientific and geological rigor.
- Constitution of expert committee: To address these “critical ambiguities,” the Supreme Court directed the constitution of a new high-powered committee consisting of specialists in the fields of geology, environment, and ecology to carry out a comprehensive scrutiny to identify areas within the Aravalli definition and to assess the environmental impact of the proposed mining activities. In the course of the scrutiny, the Court reiterated the stay on the grant of any new and renewed mining leases in the four states of the Aravalli region. Additionally, the Court directed the application of the definition in the Forest Survey of India report of August 25, 2010, to remain as the yardstick until the report of the new expert committee is produced.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Following the stay order by the court, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that the formation of a new committee shows the commitment of the government to the restoration of the range. Political leaders and environmentalists have hailed the “historic” step that was necessary for the region’s preservation against the threats of desertification and pollution. The case will be raised for the next substantive hearing on January 21, 2026.
CONCLUSION
The Supreme Court’s decision to hold in abeyance its own definition order is an extremely significant moment in the history of environmental jurisprudence. In recognizing the importance of “ecological integrity” as opposed to purely physical frontiers, it is now abundantly clear that the Supreme Court is keen that the Aravalli Hills are safeguarded based on scientific facts, and not merely as an afterthought that might be easily accommodated or adjusted as per certain administrative expediencies.
“PRIME LEGAL is a full-service law firm that has won a National Award and has more than 20 years of experience in an array of sectors and practice areas. Prime legal falls into the category of best law firm, best lawyer, best family lawyer, best divorce lawyer, best divorce law firm, best criminal lawyer, best criminal law firm, best consumer lawyer, best civil lawyer.”
WRITTEN BY: SHARANYA M
