Supreme Court of India.
Supreme Court Delhi Air Pollution Aravalli Hills Definition: New Delhi: The Supreme Court has initiated a suo motu case to address long-standing issues concerning the definition of the Aravalli Hills and ranges, a move aimed at bringing uniformity to environmental protection and mining regulation across states.
The matter, titled In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues, will be heard on December 29 by a vacation Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.G. Masih.
The Aravalli range spans Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, and has been at the centre of multiple disputes over mining and environmental degradation. In earlier proceedings, the top court had declined to impose a complete ban on mining in the Aravallis, observing that blanket prohibitions often lead to illegal mining, the rise of mafias and criminalisation of activities.
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In May 2024, while hearing a case related to illegal mining in the Aravallis, the Supreme Court noted that different states had adopted varying definitions of “Aravalli Hills” and “Aravalli Ranges,” leading to inconsistent enforcement. To address this, the Court constituted a committee to examine the issue and suggest a uniform framework.
The committee submitted its report in October 2024, recommending measures to protect and preserve the ecologically sensitive region. It proposed that any landform in Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more from the local relief should be classified as Aravalli Hills. It further defined the Aravalli Range as “two or more Aravalli Hills located within a proximity of 500 metres from each other,” measured from the outermost boundary of the lowest contour line.
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A Bench led by then Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, along with Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria, had accepted the committee’s recommendations on definitions and endorsed a prohibition on mining in core or inviolate areas. At the same time, the Court reiterated its view against a total mining ban in the region.
The suo motu proceedings are expected to focus on giving legal finality to the definitions and ensuring effective implementation across states to balance environmental protection with regulated economic activity in the Aravalli region.
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