Supreme Court Suspends Previous Aravalli Ruling in Suo Motu Case to Review Hill Definitions

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The Supreme Court of India has suspended its 20 November verdict on the Aravalli hills. The previous decision classified only landforms rising 100m+ above local relief as part of the Aravalli range. After considering opinions from experts and environmental specialists, the SC passed this judgment. It has now proposed a new high-powered expert committee to re-examine the definition and its environmental impact.

Concerns Over the 100-Meter Elevation Rule and Environmental Risk

The stay on the November verdict highlights environmental concerns. According to the rule, "Any landform located in the Aravalli districts, having an elevation of 100 metres or more from the local relief, shall be termed as Aravalli Hills." Experts fear this definition could leave 90% of the range unprotected. It might remove legal shields from lower hills and groundwater zones.

A height-only rule could break up the entire ecological system and may allow mining in the valleys. This could lead to more desertification and worse air quality. The Supreme Court noted that nature does not work on simple height rules. Protecting only the high ground ignores the unity of the mountain range.

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This 100-meter rule suggests that nature's value depends on height instead of function. A builder might level a hill just to move it below the legal limit. This shifts the goal from saving life to simple landscape engineering.

Formation of a New High-Powered Committee for Ecological Assessment

The Supreme Court ordered the formation of a new expert committee to examine issues that required to be examined. This panel will look past previous bureaucratic ideas. It must provide a "fair, impartial, and independent opinion" on the hills. The committee will study the science behind the height-based rules. They will also review mining across the whole Aravalli landscape.

The court put the old ruling "in abeyance" for now. This stops state mapping projects based on the 100-meter rule. The goal is to avoid making rules just for numerical or administrative convenience. This group must connect geological facts with real conservation needs.

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This committee represents a major "re-balancing of power" in India. Usually, government offices with financial goals set these definitions. Now, the Court is prioritizing "domain experts" over general bureaucrats. This moves toward a more scientific form of environmental governance. It could be a new model for protecting other complex ecosystems in the future.