The Aravalli hills, a critical ecological barrier spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, have faced intensifying threats from mining and development, spotlighted by recent Supreme Court decisions. A controversial November 20, 2025, ruling adopted a new definition limiting the hills to elevations over 100 meters above local relief, raising alarms over weakened protections. The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG) expressed deep concern in an open letter, arguing this could enable destructive mining amid Delhi-NCR’s air quality crisis.

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Ecological Importance

The Aravallis act as a natural shield against desertification, regulate groundwater, and support biodiversity in a water-stressed region. Uncontrolled mining threatens this by exacerbating air pollution and impacting marginalized communities without access to mitigation. Historical Supreme Court interventions since 2002 banned mining near Delhi and restricted non-forest activities, underscoring their national ecological role.​

Key Supreme Court Rulings

In 2024, the Court stressed uniform criteria to curb mining’s threat to national ecology. The 2025 redefinition, from a government-official committee, sparked backlash for potentially excluding over 90% of the range from safeguards. On December 28, 2025, the Court stayed this order suo motu, halting mining pending clarification to address misinterpretation and protests.​

Constitutional Concerns

CCG criticized the decisions for overriding environmental rules, violating precautionary principles from cases like Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum. Reducing the Aravallis to height metrics ignores their interconnected landscape, pitting administrative ease against constitutional environmentalism. PMO interventions in 2014 and 2024 reinforced strict norms like 0.5% construction limits in conservation zones.​

Current Status

Mining remains paused under the stay, with the Court mandating a fresh expert review and sustainable mining plan. Protests in Rajasthan and Haryana highlight public resolve to preserve this fragile ecosystem. Future rulings must balance development with robust conservation to avert irreversible damage