Reacting to the widespread environmental concerns relating to the redefinition of the Aravalli Hills, the Supreme Court, having taken suo motu cognisance, is set to hear the matter on December 29, 2025.
In November, the Apex Court had accepted the Ministry of Environment’s recommendation that the Aravalli Hills would be defined by having a minimum elevation of 100m, and the Aravalli Range would mean a grouping of two or more such hills within 500m distance from each other.
While the Supreme Court placed a temporary ban on granting new leases and directed the authorities to ensure sustainable mining, the new definition of the Aravalli Hills set off a storm of reactions from environmental groups and opposition parties.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with two other judges, will hear the matter.
The Aravalli Range starts from Delhi and runs through Haryana and Rajasthan, and ends in Gujarat, spanning roughly 670 km.
Several rivers, including tributaries of the Yamuna, run through the hills, while the Sabarmati river originates on the western slopes of the Range.
The Aravalli Hills are also home to a wide variety of wildlife and plant life.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised concerns, asking if the new definition would not undermine the ecological integrity of the region.
The Aravalli Range consists of several base metals, building stones, industrial minerals, and even rare earth elements, leading to the intention to explore and mine the area.