SC halts its own decision on Aravalli Hills; to form fresh expert panel

The Supreme Court on Monday kept its earlier directions on the revised definition of the Aravalli Hills in abeyance, citing concerns that the expert committee report and the Court’s observations were being misconstrued. The decision came in a suo motu case examining the environmental impact of the altered definition.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said further clarification was required before implementing the report or the Court’s previous directions. The Court ordered that the stay would remain in force until a fresh high-powered expert committee is constituted, and issued notice in the matter, returnable on January 21.

The bench observed that an independent and impartial expert assessment was necessary to examine whether the revised definition had unintentionally widened non-Aravalli areas, potentially enabling unregulated mining. The Court also raised concerns about mining in 500-metre gaps between hills, the scientific basis of the 100-metre elevation criterion, and whether a detailed geological inquiry was needed.

The Court indicated that the proposed committee would holistically review these issues, identify areas excluded from the Aravalli region, and assess whether such exclusions could harm ecological continuity. The Attorney General and a senior advocate were requested to assist the Court, while it was informed that states had been directed not to allow further mining activity meanwhile.