As per the Supreme Court order dated November 20, 2025, and as proposed by the Union Environment Ministry, only landforms having an elevation of 100 metres or more will be considered as the Aravalli hills. Environmentalists and experts expressed serious concerns over the new definition of the Aravallis, claiming that the order exposes over 90 per cent of the range to mining activities.
File image of the lush green Aravalli Range as seen from Jaigarh Fort, in Jaipur on June 26, 2025 (Photo: IANS)
The Supreme Court on Monday “put in abeyance” its November 20 decision wherein it had accepted the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s definition of Aravalli Hills and Aravalli Range. Today’s Supreme Court order came amid concerns over the protection of the ecologically sensitive range following the Centre’s move to redefine the Aravalli hills and range.
While putting in abeyance its earlier directions, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and Justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih, noted in the suo motu case that there are issues that require clarification.
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The court proposed that a high-powered committee comprising domain experts should be constituted to look into the matter.
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The court further issued notices to the Centre and others, and posted the matter for further hearing on January 21.
After the top court had accepted the Environment Ministry’s definition of the Aravalli range in November, it was claimed that the decision had exposed most of the Aravalli region to mining activities.
Amid concerns raised by experts, environmental activists and the general public, the Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and decided to hold a hearing on the suo motu writ petition titled ‘In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues’.
While the Central government had repeatedly issued assurances on the Aravalli Range’s protection in view of the growing concerns, the matter had remained in public debate.
In its bid to curb illegal mining and strengthen ecological protection, the Environment Ministry also issued directions to concerned state governments to impose a “complete ban” on granting any new mining leases in the Aravallis.
Aravallis — Centre puts complete ban on new mining leases, expands protected zone
The ministry-ordered ban would apply uniformly across the Aravalli Range, from Delhi to Gujarat. The ministry asserted that it aims to “preserve the integrity of the range as a continuous geological ridge” and curb unregulated mining activities.
Protests had erupted across several states including Rajasthan and Haryana following the acceptance of the Aravalli range’s definition by the top court.
As per the Supreme Court order dated November 20, 2025, and as proposed by the Union Environment Ministry, only landforms having an elevation of 100 metres or more will be considered as the Aravalli hills.
Environmentalists and experts expressed serious concerns over the new definition of the Aravallis, claiming that the order exposes over 90 per cent of the range to mining activities.
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