SC stays 100-m rule for Aravalli it had cleared, cites ‘public dissent’, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court stayed its November 20, 2025, judgment on the 100-metre height definition for the Aravalli hills.
• The stay is until a high-powered panel assesses the government committee's report, addressing public concerns.
• The court initiated suo motu proceedings due to public outcry over potential misinterpretation of the 100-metre norm.
• The court seeks to clarify whether limiting Aravalli hills to a 500-metre stretch between hills narrows the protected area.

Detailed Insights:

• The Aravalli Range is considered the green lungs of North-Western India, sustaining ecosystems and livelihoods.
• Concerns arose that the 100-meter definition might exclude many Aravalli areas from protection, facilitating mining.
• An internal assessment by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) indicated that only a small percentage of Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan meet the 100-metre criteria.
• The court will verify the accuracy of claims that only 1,048 of Rajasthan’s 12,081 hills meet the 100-meter rule.
• The Supreme Court had previously directed the constitution of a committee to provide a uniform definition of the Aravalli Hills due to varying definitions across states.
• The committee recommended that any landform in the Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 meters or more be termed as Aravalli Hills.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Suo Motu: An action taken by a court on its own without any prompting from parties.
• Amicus Curiae: An impartial advisor, often a lawyer, appointed by a court to offer expertise on a case.
• Ecological Integrity: The ability of an ecosystem to support and maintain ecological processes and a community of organisms.