Overview
- A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant kept its November 20 order and the MoEF&CC committee recommendations in abeyance, citing ambiguity and potential regulatory gaps.
- The mapping and delineation exercise based on the 100‑metre elevation and 500‑metre proximity rules is paused, with the court questioning ecological continuity and noting concerns such as only 1,048 of 12,081 Rajasthan hills meeting the threshold.
- Until further orders, no permissions for new or renewed mining leases in Aravalli areas identified in the 2010 Forest Survey of India report can be granted without prior Supreme Court approval.
- Notices were issued to the Centre and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, and a high‑powered panel of domain experts has been proposed to reassess the definition and its ecological impacts.
- Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav welcomed the stay and stated the ban on new or renewed leases continues, following weeks of protests and expert warnings about the risks of the narrow criteria.