Supreme Court initiates suo motu case on Aravalli definition; hearing before vacation bench on December 29

The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the issues concerning the definition of the Aravalli Hills..The matter titled In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues will be heard by a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih on December 29..The Aravalli range spans across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The top court had earlier approved an elevation-linked definition for classifying landforms as part of the Aravalli Hills for the purpose of mining regulation..In May 2024, the Court in a matter related to illegal mining in Aravalli, had noted that states had adopted different definitions for “Aravalli Hills/Ranges” and constituted a committee to look into the issues.The committee then submitted a report in October this year, suggesting various measures to protect and preserve the Aravalli Hills. It said that any landform in the Aravalli districts having an elevation of 100 metres or more from the local relief shall be termed as Aravalli Hills..Further, it defined the Aravalli Range as “two or more Aravalli Hills located within a proximity of 500m from each other, measured from the outermost point on the boundary of the lowest contour line on either side.".A Bench of then CJI BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria had accepted the recommendations made by the Committee with regard to the definitions as well as prohibition of mining in core or inviolate areas. The Court decided against imposing a complete ban on mining activities in the Aravallis, observing that such prohibition leads to illegal mining activities, mafias and criminalisation..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.