New Delhi, December 27 - The Supreme Court on Saturday took suo motu cognisance of the growing anxiety around the altered definition of the Aravalli Hills. The Bench didn’t mince words; the judges seemed visibly cautious as they fixed the matter for an urgent hearing on December 29, 2025. It felt like the court wanted to send a message: “This issue can’t wait.”
Background
The alarm was triggered after the Court’s own November ruling that approved a government committee’s formula to define an Aravalli Hill as any landform rising 100 metres above local relief, and an Aravalli Range as a cluster of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other.
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Environmental activists argue this new criteria could “shrink” protected zones and unintentionally clear the path for mining. One lawyer quietly remarked outside the courtroom corridor,
“This change looks technical on paper, but the impact on ground could be massive.”
Court’s Observations
A Special Vacation Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, with Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice A.G. Masih, acknowledged these anxieties.
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The atmosphere turned slightly tense when the CJI said,
“The bench observed, ‘Environmental protection cannot be compromised under the guise of technical reclassification.’”
The judges noted that while the government’s committee spoke of sustainable mining and ecological balance, the backlash reflected a deeper trust deficit among citizens. The court also recalled its previous directions to freeze new mining licenses until a complete Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is prepared.
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Decision
Concluding briefly, the court ordered:
“List the matter for detailed consideration on December 29. No new mining permissions shall be granted till further orders.”
The matter now rests at the doors of Monday’s hearing.
Case Title:
- In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues
