A SC bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant ordered the formation of a new high-powered committee on the Aravalli hills to reassess the definition and examine its environmental implications.
BY PC Bureau
December 29, 2025: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the operation of its own order passed last month that had accepted a revised definition of the Aravalli mountain range near Delhi—an issue that has sparked widespread concern among environmental activists and scientists, who warn that the change could open large swathes of the ecologically fragile region to illegal and unregulated mining.
A vacation bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said it was necessary to pause the implementation of both the committee’s recommendations and the court’s earlier directions.
“We deem it necessary that the recommendations of the committee and the directions of this Court be kept in abeyance,” the bench observed.
The court also ordered the constitution of a fresh, high-powered committee to examine and, if required, re-examine key issues related to the updated definition of the Aravalli range. Notices were issued to the Centre and the four concerned states—Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, and Haryana—with the matter listed for further hearing on January 21.
The development follows the Supreme Court’s decision on Saturday to take suo motu cognisance of protests and objections raised against the revised definition of the Aravallis. The controversy erupted after the Centre notified the new definition, which environmentalists alleged was framed without adequate scientific assessment or public consultation, potentially exposing vast areas of the mountain range to mining activities.
In November, the top court had directed the Union government to prepare a comprehensive plan for sustainable mining before allowing any new mining-related activity in the Aravalli region. Appearing for the Centre on Monday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed out that the court had accepted this plan in its earlier order last month.
VIDEO | Gurugram: Environmentalist Vimlendu Jha on the Supreme Court putting its previous Aravalli order on abeyance says, “The SC has asked for reconstitution of an expert committee, noting confusion over the Aravalli definition and continuity of the ecological region… This… pic.twitter.com/Tmohldqcwm
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 29, 2025
However, the Chief Justice expressed concern that the committee report and the court’s previous observations were being misinterpreted.
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“We feel the committee report and the court’s observations are being misconstrued. Certain clarifications are required. Before implementation, a fair, impartial, and independent expert opinion must be considered,” the CJI said.
The bench underlined that such a step was crucial to provide definitive guidance on whether the revised definition had expanded the scope of areas classified as non-Aravalli land, thereby facilitating the continuation of unregulated mining.
“It must be determined whether this new definition has broadened the scope of non-Aravalli areas and whether such exclusion risks environmental degradation, compromising the ecological integrity of the range,” the Chief Justice remarked.
The proposed committee, the court said, would undertake a detailed assessment of the report, identify territories that may be excluded from the Aravalli region under the new definition, and evaluate whether such exclusions could threaten the fragile ecosystem.
The Aravalli range, stretching about 670 km from near Delhi through Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, is India’s oldest fold-mountain system, dating back nearly two billion years. It plays a critical role in preventing desertification, regulating groundwater, and sustaining biodiversity across northwestern India.
