Aravalli Hills and the Law: A Redefinition at Nature’s Expense

Authors- Lubna Fakhar & Saman Mushtar

Student at Aligarh Muslim University

Abstract

Environmental problems have always been a major concern for India. Deforestation is one of the major environmental concerns that India has been suffering from. Excessive mining activities are giving a disastrous way to the rapid vanishing of trees and hills. Forests, mountains, sea, lakes or oceans are not just the nature’s creation but a means of survival for all of us. They protect us from various natural calamities. We exist because they exist and that’s why it is our duty to save them and let them flourish as much as they can. Recently, the issue of Aravalli Hills, one of the oldest mountain ranges of India has come up. The Supreme Court of India has given a new definition of hills which has posed a significant threat to the environment. This new definition has prescribed a certain limit of height beyond which a particular hill cannot be put in the category of hills. If this redefinition will come into effect then more than half of the Aravalli hills would be vanished. The intervention of judiciary in deciding the environmental matters and the role of government to protect the environment and wildlife is being questioned by people at a large scale. The Aravallis has now become prone to excessive mining and other industrial activities. The reason for its vulnerability is because of the new definition which has ousted the protection of ninety percent of hills under the Forest and Environmental laws of India. This blog critically examines the ecological impact of such redefinition of hills, discussing how it threatens the principle of sustainable development and poses a long-term risk on human survival and ecology.

Keywords: Deforestation, Aravalli Hills, Mining, Sustainable Development, Ecological Conservation

Introduction

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” This is what Mahatma Gandhi has rightly said about depletion of forests and its effects on humans. The recent judgement of the Supreme Court of India has raised concerns regarding the protection and conservation of wildlife, as well as the survival of mankind. The Aravalli Hills are natural barriers that protect the regions spread across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi from the dusty and warm winds blowing from the Thar Desert, and they also prevent the extension of the Thar Desert towards northwestern India. The Aravalli mountain range is extended to almost 700 km in which 560 km of area is in Rajasthan. In response of the judgement, people from Haryana and Rajasthan organized Save Aravalli Campaigns[1] at various places to show their dissent in order to protect the hills from being vanished and used as a commercial site. The Aravallis are not just high-standing hills but a natural barrier against desertification, a groundwater recharge zone, a biodiversity habitat and home to diverse flora and fauna. The redefinition has now removed the legal protection of those ranges that are less than 100 m by narrowing the definition of Aravalli Hills[2]. The Aravallis that were once known for protecting, preserving and regulating the ecosystem and has been a shelter for a diverse range of plant and wildlife is now under threat of being vanished. So, significant questions concerning environmental governance, statutory interpretation, along with the degree to which the law can distort natural realities in the name of development are raised by the legal reinterpretation of the Aravalli Hills.

Ecological Significance of the Aravalli

The Himalayas often come to mind when we talk about mountains in India. But long before them existed the Aravalli ranges, quietly backing life in Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Stretching approximately 700 km over these areas, the ranges are one of the spectacular geological features of northwestern India. By covering such a wide area, these ranges play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, groundwater recharge, and preventing desertification, providing priceless ecological services. 

Their fragmented geology preserves biodiversity and groundwater recharge throughout semi-arid northwest India, while their dense forests serve as essential carbon sinks, minimizing winter air pollution in Delhi-NCR. These hills are much more than elevated landform in terms of ecology. 

Ridges, slopes, scrub forests, valleys, and aquifers are all part of these linked systems, many of which are located well below captivating hilltops.[3]  

Desert barrier

Although the Aravalli hills are much eroded compared to what they were at the time of their origin, they still provide invaluable protection to the northern plains. The ranges act as a barrier against the sand coming from the Thar desert in the west, also protecting the air quality in the north. If these hills are harmed in any way, they will make the conditions worse in the Delhi-NCR region, which is already in hazardous condition, unable to manage the local source of pollution.

The existence of obstacle dunes on the western, Thar Desert-facing side of the Aravalli hills provides compelling evidence that the Aravallis serve as a barrier to desert sand, according to independent forest and environmental services analyst Chetan Agarwal. According to Agarwal's examination of Google Earth photographs, these dunes formed over hundreds of thousands of years when heavier sand particles were deposited due to the Aravalli range slowing down desert winds.[4]  

Water Recharge and Biodiversity

However, this topic is not considered of great importance when discussing these hills. Their rocky formation helps recharge groundwater reservoirs and sustain seasonal rivers in Rajasthan and Gujarat. On the biodiversity and wildlife fronts, these ranges offer a unique landscape that allows flora and fauna to flourish. The range is home to 22 wildlife sanctuaries, including 16 in Rajasthan. Additionally, the Aravalli range is essential to the ecosystem of the area.[5] By preventing the spread of the Thar Desert and protecting Delhi NCR, Jaipur, and other important locations, forest areas in the Aravalli landscapes serve as a barrier against desertification. The range also supports many rivers and rivulets and makes water recharge easier. Aravalli is the source of numerous rivers, including the Chambal, Mahi, Sabarmati, Luni, and Banas.[6]

Legal & Judicial Protection of the Aravalli Hills

The way the nature protects us, they too are needed to be protected. And that’s why several laws have been passed by the Indian legislature for their protection and management. Human life is not regulated merely by a government that focuses only on employment and better economic condition but one that equally takes care of environmental conditions also and safeguards it as it safeguards the people living under its lap. The Indian government has therefore enacted environment centric acts to protect them from being exploited indiscriminately.

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

The Aravallis are impliedly protected under several legislations. One such act is the Environment (protection) Act, 1986. Although, there is no such explicit mention of the Aravallis in this act. However, chapter 2 of this act gives the central government the power to make rules and regulations to protect and improve environment. Section 3(2)(v) of this act enables the central government to limit industrial activities to be carried on in particular regions or to permit them only under certain conditions.[7] The rationale behind this provision is that certain areas are environmentally sensitive areas and that’s why they need legal protection so that they could be prevented from being mined and used as a commercial site.   

Environmentally sensitive areas (ESZs) are such areas that have unique environmental characteristics and due to which they call for preservation or extra attention. The Aravallis also fall in this category of environmentally sensitive areas so they deserve to be protected under this provision of the act.[8]

The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980  

The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 is a significant act for protection and regulation of forests. The Aravalli ranges are covered with forests and hence they are required to be protected under this act. Section 1 provides that this law is applicable to the whole of India. Hence, it applies automatically to Aravalli regions also. Section 2 of this act makes it incumbent on the State government to take a prior permission from the Central government before using any reserved forest or any forest land or any portion thereof for non-forest purposes.[9] Non forest purposes include mining, industrial projects, infrastructure development, commercial plantations etc. Mandating Central government’s approval before carrying out any non-forest purpose keeps a check on state activities that target the exploitation of forests for profit oriented purposes.[10]

Constitutional Protection to the Aravallis

And one such protection granted to the Aravallis is from the law of the land, The Constitution of India itself. Being a bulky document on state and governance, it has given much importance to the protection of environment and wildlife also.

The Constitution of India has enshrined provisions to protect and conserve environment as a part of Directive Principles of State Policy. Article 48A of the Constitution declares that the state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country.[11] This provision indicates India’s response towards the global issue of environmental degradation and a necessity for sustainable development. The redefinition of the Aravallis has posed a significant threat not only to its existence but to the thousands of wildlife that are surviving under it. Article 48A is therefore act as a preventive measure for the Aravallis and other category of forests and wildlife too. Similarly, the Indian Constitution makes it a fundamental duty in article 51A(g) for every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.[12] These provisions clearly reflect India’s commitment towards protecting and preserving the nature and environment and all the other creatures that are living and surviving under its protection.

The Constitution of India thus, by incorporating these provisions favourable to environment has shown that even though the nature does not belong to a specific individual though it gives immense benefits to all the creatures present on the earth and therefore it becomes our duty to protect them and save them for the benefits accruing to us and for future generations.

Judicial Protection to the Aravallis

Although, there is no specific case law that actually targets the Aravalli Hills but still there has always been a constant coming up of cases relating to protection and conservation of environment before the court of law. The judicial protection to the Aravallis implies that how the judiciary has interpreted the forest related acts and how it ensured the protection, conservation and management of forests. The Aravallis being the natural barrier of various environmental problems and existing as an ecological corridor to thousands of wildlife is covered with dense forests. Hence, it becomes indispensible to take a look at this and ensure the safety and security of these hilly ranges from getting vanished for unlawful purposes or for profit oriented purposes.

The leading case of M.C Mehta v Union of India[13] was one of the most important judgements in respect of ban of mining in forest areas. This case explicitly talked about the Aravalli Hills. In this case, the court held that at all costs, the Aravalli hill range must be protected. The total stoppage of mining operations in the Aravalli hill range area may eventually need to be taken into consideration if, in spite of strict regulations, there is a negative, irreversible impact on the ecology. In 2002, an order was passed by the Supreme Court of India with respect to this case which laid down that all mining operations in the Aravalli Hills were completely prohibited by the court. The Chief Secretaries of Rajasthan and Haryana were instructed to make sure that no mining occurs in the Aravallis, especially in areas designated as forest land or protected under the Environment (Protection) Act.

Similarly, in another case of The Centre for Environmental law (CEL), WWF v. Union of India, the Supreme Court adopted a broader view for the protection, conservation and management of the forests. It held that protection of forests and wildlife comes in the ambit of article 21 of the Indian Constitution which mentions right to life and personal liberty. Justifying this move as a crucial act, the court stated that the loss of biodiversity is not a one-time loss but slow and gradual process of environmental destruction.[14]

Another case is T.N Godavarman Thirumalpad v Union of India[15]. This landmark case is widely regarded as a turning point in Indian forestry management and environmental protection laws and policies. In its decision, the Supreme Court adopted a broad definition of "forests," encompassing public domain jungle regions, corporate reservation forests (forests owned by a business entity rather than an individual), and forests already documented in official records. In delivering the judgment, the Supreme Court stressed the importance of protecting forests not only for their ecological and economic advantages but also for its possible impact on constitutional principles like Article 21's right to life and Article 48A's directive principles of state policy, which mandate that the state protect and enhance the environment, including forests and wildlife.  

Supreme Court’s Redefinition of Hills

The Supreme Court on Monday halted its ruling redefining the Aravalli hills, one of the world's oldest mountain ranges, and recommended forming a high-powered committee of domain experts to conduct an intensive and comprehensive assessment of the problem.[16] The Supreme Court stayed the directions in its November 20 verdict that accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges recommended by a committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC), which sparked protests from various sections of society.

The Aravalli hills became the focus of a rising political debate over their new defining criteria and the environmental implications of the new designation. Those who challenged the Centre's new definition said that it was made without sufficient scientific review or public participation. Activists, scientists, and the opposition have all claimed that the reinterpretation will allow mining to occur in broad swaths of the delicate mountain habitat. The court requested an investigation of regions omitted from the proposed definition that might lead to their loss or deterioration, thereby jeopardizing the ecological integrity of the Aravalli range. The court aimed to clarify the impact of mining and other activities in excluded regions on the protected hills. Impact of continued mining in Aravalli-designated areas: The court requested a study of whether sustainable or controlled mining inside the newly-demarcated Aravalli region, "notwithstanding regulatory oversight," will have any negative environmental repercussions for the range.

Environmental Consequences of Redefinition

In May 2024, the Union Environment Ministry established a committee to provide a standardized description of the Aravalli Hills, and this committee published its final report in October, 2025.[17] A significant ruling on the definition of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges was rendered by a Supreme Court bench on November 20, 2025. In its ruling, the bench agreed with the suggestions of a committee led by the Union Ministry of Environment. The new law says that a landform can only be called as "Aravalli Hill" if it is at least 100 meters higher than the land around it. An 'Aravalli range' is a collection of hills within a 500-metre radius. According to government statistics, just 1,048 of the 12,081 hills recorded in Rajasthan, where the Aravalli are most prominent, are capable of meeting the updated criteria, accounting for 8.7%.[18] This means that more than 90% of the ancient range is not legally protected, making it vulnerable to mining and land-use development.

Environmentalists caution that the amended 100-meter criteria threaten a vital biological barrier by removing protection from more than 90% of the Aravalli area. It may facilitate mining, quarrying, infrastructure development and real-estate expansion, thereby increasing environmental and climate-related hazards. Because they enable precipitation to replenish deep aquifers, the Aravalli hills are essential for groundwater recharge. According to Congress MP Ajay Maken, the range can recharge up to 20 lakh liters per acre each year. Its deterioration might make water scarcity worse in Gurugram, Faridabad, and the National Capital Region, which is already one of the groundwater zones with the highest rate of depletion in the world.

The mountain also blocks the scorching and dusty winds of the Thar Desert. Delhi's and the surrounding states' air quality might worsen if this barrier is weakened, since it would increase particle pollution.

Mining and development threats to the Aravallis

The Supreme Court's interpretation of the Aravalli Hills has raised serious environmental concerns, particularly regarding threats to mining and development. A people-driven conservation group stated in Jaipur on Monday (January 5, 2026) that a satellite audit has demonstrated that 31.8% of the Aravalli range is under ecological risk following the recent classification by the Center fixing the height of hills at 100 meters for legal protection. A total ban on mining in the Aravalli hills has been proposed by the group.[19] According to a recent study, illegal mining and the expansion of urban development have severely weakened the Aravalli Hills' capacity to act as a green barrier. This has resulted in accelerating desertification and threatening the ecological balance in the north-western area. This study was done by Sankala Foundation with the help of the Embassy of Denmark in India and the Haryana State Forest Department. This research was named Eco-restoration of the Aravalli Landscape, adopting an integrated strategy for tackling ecological deterioration in the Aravalli region, combining environmental sustainability with biodiversity protection, climatic resilience, livelihood security, and human rights.[20]

According to the EIA Notification of 2006, mining projects over certain thresholds require prior environmental clearance, impact assessment, and public participation.[21] However, in practice, mining in the Aravalli region—particularly of stone, quartzite, and minor minerals—has frequently eluded thorough examination due to lease fragmentation below standards, categorization of property as "non-forest" using narrow definitions, lax enforcement, and post-facto clearing.

Need for a Uniform Aravalli Protection Law

The Aravallis has a large coverage to various Indian states. Despite of its immense ecological importance, there is no uniform law for its protection. Different states have their own rules and regulations to ensure preservation and conservation of the Aravalli ranges. The question thus arises to have a uniform law which would have the same application over the Aravallis situated in different parts of India.

The Aravallis are currently governed by the Forest and environment protection acts regulating in India. There are various judicial pronouncements which show concerns regarding the protection of these hilly ranges from excessive mining and construction activities. Additionally, the National Green Tribunal has stepped in to limit development and mining operations in the Aravallis.

The prolonged dependence on scattered regulations in the absence of legislative uniformity will promote ecological degradation under the pretense of administrative discretion.

Conclusion    

A redefinition of Aravalli Hills demonstrates how environment protection is frequently compromised in the interest of development. The Aravalli hills will now be looked according to the new hundred metre definition proposed by the Supreme Court of India. This definition has removed protection of more than ninety percent of the Aravalli Hills and has opened it for mining, development, and degradation to continue in places that are environmentally sensitive areas. The Supreme Court’s ruling puts a question mark on the protection and conservation of environment and wildlife. The Aravallis are essential for maintaining biodiversity, replenishing groundwater, and halting desertification. These hills being the natural barrier to various environmental problems are now under threat of extinction. The forest and environmental laws serves the purpose of protecting, conserving and strengthening the security of forests and wildlife by laying down various stringent provisions for its misuse. The goal of environmental law is defeated when they are treated as discrete land parcels rather than an ongoing natural system. It, therefore, becomes our responsibility to think about the nature and save them from being exploited for unlawful and profitable purposes. The redefinition should be implemented after analyzing its pros and cons on the environment and therefore by providing a new definition of hills, the upper court has indirectly opened the Aravallis to danger. There is an urgent need to frame a legal definition that aligns with scientific and environmental realities and prefer a continuous and fair environmental protection rather than focusing only on material benefits.             

[1] ‘Save Aravalli campaign’ floods X, available at; https://m.economictimes.com, (last visited on 23 January 2026)

[2] India’ Aravali Hills: Aravalli Range Redefinition Fuels National Debate, available at; https://thesecretariat.in, (last visited on 23 January 2026)

[3] The Aravalli mountains, an ecological asset under threat, available at; https://india.mongabay.com , (last visited on 23 January, 2026)

[4] Aravalli Landscape Restoration, available at; https://moef.gov.in , (last visited on 23 January, 2026)

[5] With a new identity, the Aravalli hills stare at an uncertain future, available at; https://india.mongabay.com , (last visited on 23 January, 2026)

[6] Aravalli Landscape Restoration, available at; https://moef.gov.in , (last visited on 23 January, 2026)

[7] The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, (Act No. 29 of 1986), s. 3(2)(v)

[8] Environmentally Sensitive Zones, available at; https://www.mpcb.gov.in, (last visited on 23 January, 2026)

[9] The Forest Conservation Act, 1980, (Act No. 69 of 1980), s. 2

[10]Section 2 in The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, available at; https://indiakanoon.org , (last visited on 23 January, 2026)

[11] The Constitution of India, art. 48A

[12] The Constitution of India, art. 51A(g)

[13] AIR,1987, SCR (1) 819

[14] Centre for Environment Law WWF-1 v/s Union of India, available at; https://www.legalserviceindia.com , (last visited on 23 January, 2026)

[15] AIR 2012 SC 1254

[16] Supreme Court Extends Stay on Revised Aravalli Hills Definition, available at; https://www.ndtv.com , (last visited on 23 January, 2026)

[17] The Aravalli Hills and Range (Arvallis), frequently.., available at; https://api.sci.gov.in , (last visited on 23 January, 2026)

[18] Forest Survey had red flagged but Govt took green shield off 90%, available at; https://visionias.in , (last visited on 23 January 2026)

[19] 31.8% of Aravalli Range at risk after recent classification, available at; https://www.thehindu.com, (last visited on 23 January 2026)

[20] A Report on Eco-restoration of Aravalli Landscapes, available at; https://sankala.org , (last visited on 23 January 2026)

[21]EIA Notification 2006 (Principal rules), Compendium of Gazatte, available at; https://environmentclearance.nic.in, (last visited 23 January 2026)

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