The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognizance of the long-pending and critically important issue concerning the definition of the Aravalli hills and mountain ranges. As per the cause list published on the Court’s official website, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Suryakant, Justice J. K. Maheshwari, and Justice A. G. Masih will hear the matter titled “In Re: Definition of the Aravalli Hills and Mountain Ranges and Related Issues” on December 29.
The Court's action coincides with states raising grave concerns about the Aravalli range's gradual weakening of environmental regulations.Environmentalists, civil society organisations, and locals are staging protests from Delhi and Haryana to Rajasthan, reflecting the public's growing concern about the future of this environmentally sensitive area. Stretching across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, the Aravalli Range is among the oldest mountain systems in the world. Its importance goes far beyond geology. The Aravallis play an important ecological role, they regulate local climate patterns, replenish groundwater, and act as a natural barrier to prevent the Thar Desert from extending eastward by collecting water in their foothills.
The environmental significance of the Aravallis is crucial for the National Capital Region (NCR). Their forested stretches help filter dust and pollutants, moderate extreme temperatures, and reduce the impact of dust storms. Any weakening of legal protections—especially through narrow or ambiguous redefinitions that exclude large portions of the hills—will almost certainly encourage more mining, deforestation, and unplanned construction. The environmental damage from such activity would far outweigh any short-term economic gains.
Over the years, extensive, often illegal mining has already caused serious damage to the Aravalli belt. Wildlife habitats have been disrupted, hillocks have been levelled, and aquifers have been exhausted. Numerous scientific studies and expert committees have concluded that continued exploitation could result in irreversible ecological collapse, aggravating water scarcity and climate vulnerability in northern and western India.
One of the main causes of concern is the uncertainty surrounding the official definition of the Aravalli hills and mountain ranges.This uncertainty has often been exploited by vested interests to circumvent environmental regulations. The Supreme Court's suo motu action is not only welcome but also necessary to protect constitutional principles, such as the right to life and a healthy environment under Article 21. It is alarming that policy choices affecting such a sensitive biological zone appear to have been taken without adequate scientific review or transparent public consultation.
The integrity of environmental governance is seriously threatened by reports that claim mining lobbies have undue influence.Such decisions must be driven not by short-term commercial pressures but by professional judgement, science, and long-term national interest.
Maintaining the Aravalli range is not only an environmental concern but also a national survival issue. Agriculture, water security, public health, and climate resilience are all directly linked to the health of this ancient mountain system. Any decision that weakens its protection must therefore be reconsidered. Governments at all levels must urgently adopt and strictly enforce a clear, uniform, and scientifically grounded definition of the Aravalli hills.Only decisive legal and administrative action can ensure that this invaluable natural heritage is preserved for present and future generations.
Prof. Dr. K. S. Rana
Ex Vice-Chancellor, Environmentalist