Big Development in Aravalli Case: SC Order Put in Abeyance, New Expert Panel To Be Formed

Amid a row over the definition of Aravalli hills approved by it, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed its earlier order. The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue. The matter was heard by a three-judge bench vacation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices JK Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih. The case is titled as 'In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues'.The top court on November 20 had accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges and banned grant of fresh mining leases inside its areas spanning Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat until experts' reports are out. The apex court had accepted the recommendations of a committee of MoEF&CC (Ministry of Environment, Forest

and Climate Change) on the definition of Aravalli hills and ranges to protect the world's oldest mountain system.(This is a breaking copy. More details awaited)