SUPREME COURT PUTS ON HOLD ITS OWN DIRECTIONS IN ARAVALLI MINING JUDGMENT:

The Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the implementation of directions issued in its November 20, 2025, judgment, which had endorsed a standardized definition for the Aravalli hills and ranges. This decision came during a hearing before a vacation bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice J K Maheshwari, and Justice Augustine George Masih. The bench announced plans to form a high-powered committee of domain experts tasked with conducting a thorough and comprehensive review of the matter. The court emphasized that the recommendations from this committee, along with the findings and directives outlined in the November 20 judgment, would remain on hold pending further examination.

The bench highlighted the need for clarifications on several issues and issued notices to the central government and other relevant parties in the suo motu case titled 'In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues'. The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on January 21. This suo motu initiative stems from ongoing environmental litigation tied to the long-standing T N Godavarman Thirumulpad case.

In its November 20 ruling, spanning 29 pages, the Supreme Court had adopted the recommendations from a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. This committee proposed a uniform definition for the Aravalli hills and ranges to safeguard what is considered the world's oldest mountain system, spanning regions in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. According to the committee, an Aravalli Hill would be defined as any landform in the designated Aravalli districts that rises at least 100 meters above the local relief. The entire landform within the area bounded by the lowest contour line—whether actual or notionally extended—along with the hill, its supporting slopes, and related features regardless of gradient, would be included as part of the Aravalli Hills.

The committee further clarified that an Aravalli Range consists of two or more such hills located within 500 meters of each other, measured from the outermost points on the boundaries of their lowest contour lines. To determine the area between these hills, buffers would be created with a width matching the minimum distance between the lowest contour lines of the adjacent hills. The full expanse of landforms in this intervening space, incorporating hills, hillocks, supporting slopes, and other associated elements, would also be deemed integral to the Aravalli Range.

Building on these definitions, the Supreme Court had prohibited the issuance of new mining leases in the Aravalli areas across the four states until expert reports are finalized. The court accepted the committee's suggestions for banning mining in core or inviolate zones, with limited exceptions as specified in the report. It also endorsed measures for promoting sustainable mining practices and implementing strategies to curb illegal mining activities in the region.

By keeping these directions in abeyance, the court aims to ensure a more robust and expert-driven resolution to the complex ecological and legal challenges surrounding the Aravalli ecosystem. This pause reflects recognition of potential ambiguities in the uniform definition and its implications for mining, conservation, and land use policies. The formation of the expert committee is expected to provide deeper insights, balancing environmental protection with developmental needs. Stakeholders, including state governments and mining entities, will await the committee's inputs, which could influence future judgments and policies on this ancient mountain range facing threats from unchecked exploitation and urbanization.