SC stays 100-metre Aravalli definition to form new expert panel

Aravalli range: A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday stayed its November 20 order approving a 100-metre height benchmark for the Aravallis.

The Chief Justice said the Court will suspend the earlier committee’s recommendations and its own directions until it forms a new expert panel. The bench also issued notice in the suo motu case and scheduled the next hearing for January 21.

The Court warned that excluding hills located more than 500 metres apart could leave large sections of the Aravalli range without protection. The amicus curiae had earlier raised this concern.

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SC puts on hold 100-metre Aravalli norm, to set up new expert panel

The bench directed the proposed expert committee to study the impact of mining and other activities in areas excluded from the Aravalli category. It asked the panel to assess how such activities could harm ecological balance and protected hills.

The Court also asked the committee to verify how many hills qualify under the 100-metre rule. It sought confirmation of claims that only 1,048 out of 12,081 Aravalli hills taller than 20 metres meet the criterion.

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