The Supreme Court is set to hear a self-initiated case on Monday concerning the disputed interpretation of the Aravalli hills and a range of environmental and regulatory issues connected to it. The matter has been formally listed as “Definition of Aravalli Hills and Mountain Ranges and Related Issues.”

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice A.G. Masih, will examine the concerns surrounding the Centre’s revised description of the Aravalli range.

The controversy surfaced after the Union government issued a notification redefining the Aravallis, a move that environmental groups, conservationists and scientists warned could make large swathes of this ecologically sensitive mountain system vulnerable to mining activities. Critics argued that the redefinition lacked sufficient scientific backing and public consultation.

In response to these concerns, the Supreme Court earlier stepped in and temporarily suspended the grant of fresh mining leases in the Aravalli region. The court directed that no new permissions should be issued until a detailed and sustainable mining management framework is put in place. Following the court’s intervention, the government also announced a complete halt on new mining leases in the area.

Opponents of the revised definition maintain that it could potentially expose environmentally fragile zones across Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat to commercial exploitation. They contend that the Aravallis play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, groundwater recharge and climate regulation.

To address these concerns, the government has tasked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with identifying additional stretches within the Aravalli range where mining should be barred. This exercise will go beyond the areas already protected and will be based on ecological sensitivity, geological factors and landscape-level assessments.

The upcoming hearing is expected to play a key role in shaping future policy on mining, conservation and sustainable development in one of India’s oldest and most important mountain ecosystems.