Aravalli Hills case: Supreme Court puts November verdict on hold

Supreme Court puts November Aravalli verdict on hold, orders fresh survey; next hearing on January 21

The Supreme Court on Monday (December 29, 2025) kept its November judgment on the Aravalli Hills in abeyance amid controversy over the definition of the ancient range. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the court would form a new expert committee to conduct a fresh survey and detailed study of the Aravallis.

Supreme Court keeps November Aravalli verdict in abeyance, orders fresh survey; next hearing on January 21

The Supreme Court on Monday, December 29, 2025, kept its earlier judgment on the Aravalli Hills in abeyance after concerns emerged over the definition of the ancient mountain range and its potential impact on mining and environmental protection.

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A three-judge Special Vacation Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the court would constitute a new expert committee to conduct a fresh survey and detailed study of the Aravalli Hills. The bench also issued notice to all stakeholders and fixed January 21, 2026, as the next date of hearing.

November 20, 2025

On November 20, 2025, at around 10:30 AM, the Supreme Court accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli Hills and ranges, based on the recommendations of a committee set up by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

By 12:00 noon the same day, the court imposed a ban on granting fresh mining leases in the Aravalli regions across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat until expert reports are submitted.

Under the approved definition, the court described an “Aravalli Hill” as any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above local relief, while it defined an “Aravalli Range” as a group of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other.

December 27, 2025: Suo motu cognisance

On Saturday, December 27, 2025, at around 4:45 PM, amid growing criticism from environmentalists and political leaders, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of concerns over the redefinition of the Aravalli Hills.

Later in the evening, by 6:00 PM, the court decided to constitute a Special Vacation Bench to hear the matter urgently and listed it for hearing on Monday, December 29, 2025.

December 29, 2025: Day of hearing

The Special Bench assembled at 10:32 AM on December 29, 2025, to hear the suo motu case relating to the definition and protection of the Aravalli Hills.

At 11:22 AM, environmentalist Vimlendu K Jha publicly criticised the redefinition, calling it an attack on water sovereignty, air quality and the climate of North India, and questioned how an ecosystem that evolved over billions of years could be redefined using a narrow, height-based criterion.

At 12:29 PM, the Solicitor General, appearing for the Centre, told the court that the Union government was willing to comply with whatever decision the Supreme Court takes. He also informed the bench that the four Aravalli states had been asked to maintain status quo in the meantime. The Solicitor General recalled that the November judgment had directed the Centre to prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) after public consultations.

At 12:34 PM, CJI Surya Kant said the court would revisit the November judgment and seek clarifications on whether limiting the definition of the Aravalli Hills to landforms of 100 metres or higher could result in unregulated mining. He stressed that authorities would need to carry out a detailed identification of areas now falling in the ‘non-Aravalli’ category.

At 12:37 PM, the bench formally kept the November 20 judgment in abeyance, with the CJI announcing the formation of a new expert committee to carry out a comprehensive survey and scientific study of the Aravalli Hills.

At 12:38 PM, the court issued notice to all parties and fixed January 21, 2026, for the next hearing in the matter.

Political reactions

Earlier in the day, at 11:18 AM, the Congress criticised the redefinition of the Aravalli Hills, warning that both mining and real estate development would cause further damage to an already degraded ecosystem. Congress leader and former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said the changes were being made against the recommendations of the Forest Survey of India.

What lies ahead

The Supreme Court will now examine whether the height-based definition of the Aravalli Hills adequately safeguards the fragile ecosystem and whether excluding certain areas makes them vulnerable to mining and large-scale development.

The case will come up for further hearing on January 21, 2026, when the court is likely to consider the scope, composition and mandate of the newly proposed expert committee.

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