A bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday has also ordered the formation of a new expert committee
Aravalli Definition Suo Moto Case: The Supreme Court of India has “put in abeyance” its earlier decision (issued on November 20) to accept the Central Environment Ministry’s definition of Aravalli Hills and Aravalli Range.
Acceptance of the said definition by the top court in November had exposed most of the Aravalli region to the possibility of being used for regulated mining activities.
A bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday has also ordered the formation of a new expert committee to examine issues that need to be examined in terms of the definition of Aravallis.
The Court has also issued notice to the Centre and the four Aravalli States - Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Haryana, seeking their response to its suo motu case on the issue, according to ANI.
The Supreme Court on November 20, 2025, accepted the definition of the Aravalli Hills proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), triggering widespread criticism and concern among environmentalists and citizens alike.
Under the proposal, hills are defined as landforms with an elevation of at least 100 metres above the local relief.
According to news reports, nearly 90 percent of the Aravalli range, one of India’s oldest mountain systems, would not qualify for protection under the definition accepted by the Supreme Court.
Critics argue that the revised definition could significantly weaken environmental safeguards for the Aravallis, which play a crucial role in preventing desertification, maintaining groundwater levels, and regulating the regional climate.
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