Supreme Court Forms Expert Panel to Define Aravalli Hills, Halts Mining Activities

The Supreme Court of India is forming an expert panel to define the boundaries of the Aravalli hills, addressing concerns over a previous definition that risked reducing environmental protections. All mining activities, including those with valid licenses, have been halted pending the panel's findings. The Court has requested the Environment Ministry and stakeholders to suggest domain experts and extended its stay order while seeking written submissions by March 10 to resolve critical ambiguities in the definition.