Supreme Court Steps In Over Revised Aravalli Hills Definition, Flags Environmental Risks
To address these discrepancies, the Supreme Court had earlier constituted a high-level committee.
The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of concerns surrounding the recent change in the definition of the Aravalli Hills, amid fears that the revised interpretation could open the door to unchecked mining and serious environmental damage. A vacation bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice A.G. Masih is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday, December 29.
The Court’s intervention follows widespread protests and strong objections from environmentalists and civil society groups, who argue that altering the definition of the Aravalli Hills threatens a region of immense ecological importance. The Aravalli range plays a crucial role in preventing desertification, maintaining biodiversity and sustaining groundwater levels across north-western India.
Environmental organisations have warned that diluting the definition may legitimise mining and construction activities in areas that were earlier protected, leading to irreversible ecological harm. The issue has gained prominence due to long-standing inconsistencies in how the Aravalli Hills and ranges are defined across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, which have previously resulted in regulatory loopholes and instances of illegal mining.
To address these discrepancies, the Supreme Court had earlier constituted a high-level committee. In a judgment delivered in November this year, a bench led by then Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, along with Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria, accepted the operational definition recommended by a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for mining-related purposes.
Under this definition, “Aravalli Hills” are identified as landforms in specified districts rising at least 100 metres above local relief, including connected slopes and adjoining features. An “Aravalli Range” is defined as two or more such hills located within 500 metres of one another.
The Court had also directed the Centre to formulate a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining before permitting any fresh mining activity in this ecologically sensitive region.
