New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed its November 20 judgment that had redefined the Aravalli hills solely on the basis of elevation, citing the “dire need to further probe and clarify” the issue to prevent regulatory gaps that could compromise the ecological integrity of one of India’s most ancient and fragile mountain systems.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih, issued the stay suo motu, meaning on its own initiative, and directed that both the earlier judgment and the recommendations of the court-appointed expert committee be kept “in abeyance” until a comprehensive review is conducted with the assistance of a high-powered panel of independent domain experts. The court set the matter for further hearing on January 21 and issued notices to the Centre and the four Aravalli states — Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

The interim order effectively pauses the ongoing mapping and delineation exercise initiated by the Union environment ministry and state authorities, which had aimed to identify Aravalli areas strictly according to the 100-metre elevation criterion from the November 20 judgment. That delineation was intended to form the basis for future mining regulations and permits in the region.

Highlighting the environmental significance of the Aravallis, the bench described the range as the “green lungs of north-western India,” noting its critical role as a natural barrier separating the Thar Desert from the fertile northern plains, sustaining biodiversity, and supporting livelihoods. The court also observed that decades of unregulated urbanisation, deforestation, and resource extraction have placed enormous strain on the ecosystem, making the range inherently fragile.

The November 20 ruling had restricted the definition of Aravalli hills to landforms rising at least 100 metres above the surrounding terrain, measured from the lowest contour encircling the landform to its peak. The judgment also recommended that only landforms within 500 metres of each other be considered contiguous for conservation purposes. Environmental experts had raised concerns that this elevation-based approach excluded numerous smaller hills, ridges, and undulating terrain, potentially exposing them to mining and development while disrupting the ecological continuity of the range.

During Monday’s hearing, the court noted that the earlier judgment and committee report had not sufficiently addressed several critical issues, creating the risk of a “regulatory vacuum.” Among the concerns flagged were whether limiting the Aravallis to qualifying hills effectively narrows the conservation footprint, whether this inadvertently expands non-Aravalli areas open to regulated mining, and how ecological continuity would be maintained in the gaps between qualifying hills.

The court also highlighted statistics indicating that in Rajasthan, only 1,048 out of 12,081 hills met the 100-metre threshold, raising the possibility that vast portions of the Aravalli range could be stripped of environmental protection if the criterion were applied without adjustment. In response to these concerns, the court expressed its intention to constitute a high-powered expert committee to conduct a holistic, multi-temporal assessment of the Aravallis. The committee will be tasked with identifying areas that fall within and outside the proposed definition, evaluating the ecological impact of regulated mining, and determining whether the exclusion of certain areas could lead to long-term environmental degradation.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, welcomed the suo motu proceedings, noting that misconceptions had arisen regarding the November 20 judgment. He clarified that the earlier ruling had accepted the committee’s report but envisaged a detailed mining plan to be implemented only after Supreme Court approval. Mehta also emphasized that public consultations would be conducted before any mining plan is finalized.

Attorney General R. Venkataramani, senior advocate K. Parameshwar (amicus curiae), and the Central Empowered Committee will assist the court in the proceedings. The bench directed that no new mining leases or renewals of existing leases be granted in the Aravalli Hills and Ranges, as identified in the Forest Survey of India’s 2010 report, without prior approval from the Supreme Court.

The November 20 judgment had ignited widespread criticism from environmentalists and civil society groups, who argued that the elevation-based definition excluded ecologically important but lower-lying areas of the range. The controversy intensified after the Union environment ministry convened a meeting on December 8 to initiate mapping of Aravalli areas according to the new definition, with state governments and the Survey of India tasked with implementing the delineation exercise. With the stay in place, these activities are expected to be paused until the Supreme Court provides further guidance.

The Aravalli range, one of the world’s oldest fold mountains, stretches over 700 kilometres from eastern Gujarat through Rajasthan and Haryana to Delhi. The range plays a critical ecological role, preventing desertification, aiding groundwater recharge, supporting diverse flora and fauna, and acting as a natural shield against extreme weather events in the region. Experts have long warned that any erosion of protection could have severe long-term consequences for both the environment and human communities dependent on the range.

By ordering a stay on the November ruling, the Supreme Court has signaled its intent to adopt a more comprehensive and scientifically grounded approach to defining and protecting the Aravallis, ensuring that no administrative or ecological action undermines the long-term sustainability of this critical mountain system.