New Delhi: The Supreme Court is set to take up a suo motu writ petition on Monday concerning the definition of the ecologically sensitive Aravalli Hills, in a hearing anticipated to focus on environmental protection and the government’s commitments.
According to the causelist published on the apex court’s website, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.G. Masih, will hear the petition titled In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues on December 29.
The court initiated the matter on its own motion amid mounting concerns over safeguarding the fragile Aravalli range and repeated government assurances of its protection.
In a significant step to curb illegal mining and bolster ecological safeguards, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has directed state governments to enforce a complete ban on granting any new mining leases across the Aravalli landscape. The directive applies uniformly from Delhi to Gujarat, with the stated aim of “preserving the integrity of the range as a continuous geological ridge” and ending unregulated mining activities.
To further strengthen conservation measures, the MoEF&CC has also tasked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with identifying additional areas across the entire Aravalli range where mining should be prohibited, beyond the areas already restricted by the Centre.
In a related development, senior Congress leader and former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has raised serious concerns over the recently issued redefinition of the Aravalli Hills. In a letter dated December 28 to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ramesh criticised the new definition for limiting the classification of the Aravallis to landforms with an elevation of 100 metres or more.
Sharing the letter on social media platform X on Sunday, Ramesh said he had posed four pointed questions to the minister, reflecting “widespread concerns” over the redefinition and seeking clarification on the issue.