The Supreme Court of India, on December 29, 2025, took significant action by staying its own judgment from November 20, 2025, which had accepted a new uniform definition for the Aravalli Hills and Ranges. This earlier ruling defined Aravalli Hills as landforms with an elevation of 100 meters or more above local relief and an Aravalli Range as two or more such hills within 500 meters of each other. The decision to stay the judgment came amid mounting criticism and concerns from environmentalists, opposition parties, and various stakeholders who feared that the 100-meter height criterion would exclude large ecologically sensitive areas from legal protection, thereby making them vulnerable to unchecked mining and construction. In response to these concerns and a suo motu cognizance of the matter, a vacation bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant deemed it necessary to keep the November 20 order in abeyance. The Court also directed the formation of a new high-powered expert committee to thoroughly re-examine the definition of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges, address critical ambiguities, and provide independent scientific opinions after consulting all stakeholders. The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, publicly welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, emphasizing the government's commitment to the protection and restoration of the Aravalli range and confirming that a complete ban on new mining leases and renewal of existing ones in the Aravallis remains in effect. The apex court highlighted the need for clarifications to prevent any regulatory gaps that could undermine the ecological integrity of the Aravalli region, a vital natural barrier against desertification and a biodiversity hotspot spanning Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. The next hearing in this crucial case is scheduled for January 21, 2026.