Massive protests have been going on in different parts of Rajasthan owing to the recent ruling of the Supreme Court on the Aravalli hills, where the apex court has given a new scientific definition for the hill ranges. Lawyers from the Rajasthan High Court, under the Udaipur Bar Association, staged a massive protest on Saturday against the ruling by gheraoing the district collectorate office, demanding that the Centre file a review petition in the Supreme Court.

The top court’s new classification criteria for the hills has sparked concerns among environmentalists, who warned against the depletion of green cover in several parts of Rajasthan and disruptions in the ecological system. The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, with their formation dating back to over 2 billion years. 

Present at the protest site, lawyers have raised concerns that the new ruling will pave the way for more mining activities in the Aravalli range, which, they said, have already been marred with indiscriminate mining and cutting. 

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"The Honourable Supreme Court has considered only hills up to 100 metres as Aravalli. If this happens, 90 percent of the hills will come out of the scope of the law, and mining will start. Even now, Aravalli is being continuously exploited," Senior advocate Rao Ratan Singh said as quoted by NDTV.

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The protesters demanded strict policies for the conservation of the mountain range, saying that the new SC ruling will lead to the desertification of the Mewar region, which includes key districts of Rajasthan, including Udaipur, Chittorgarh, and Rajsamand, among others. 

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What Is Supreme Court’s Ruling On Aravalli Range?

The Supreme Court on November 20 established a uniform, elevation-based definition for the Aravalli Hills and Ranges. Under the new ruling, a landform is now legally classified as an "Aravalli Hill" only if it rises 100 meters or more above the surrounding local relief. Meanwhile, the definition for an "Aravalli Range" is a cluster of two or more such hills located within 500 meters of each other.

The order was passed to resolve decades of ambiguity caused by different states like Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan, for using varied definitions for the ancient mountain range, thereby allowing illegal mining and unregulated construction.

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Experts See Aravali As Lifeline Of South Rajasthan

Laxi Narayan Pandya, a former member of the Tribal Advisory Council, has expressed her concerns about the recent ruling on the Aravali mountain range, which, according to her, acts as the lifeline of southern Rajasthan. “The  Aravalli mountain range is not just a pile of stones, but the lifeline of the entire region. If it is allowed to be destroyed, it will have a direct impact on the environment and human life,” he added, quoted by Patrika.  

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Harjeet Singh, founding director of Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, said that the new definition of the Supreme Court erases the landscape that keeps North India breathing. "On paper, it’s 'sustainable mining' and 'development', but on the ground, it is dynamite, roads and pits cutting through leopard corridors, village commons and Delhi–NCR’s last green shield," he added, quoted by news agency PTI.

Political Slugfest Begins

Supporting the ruling of the Supreme Court, Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Rathore assured that the Central government would not pass a ruling that damages the mountain ranges permanently. 

He further said, “We are also taking full precautions regarding the environment. When there is a court decision, a judgment is given only after analysing and interpreting it.” Reacting to former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's comments on the top court's decision, Rathore said, "The former CM is acting too hastily. He should analyse this carefully first."

Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, meanwhile, had urged the Centre to reconsider its ‘scientific’ definition of the Aravalis for the safe future of the coming generation. Gehlot joined the social media ‘Save Aravali’ campaigna and changed his profile picture to register his protest against the ruling. 

He further wrote on his official X (formerly twitter) handle, “Today, I am changing my profile picture (DP) to join the Save Aravalli campaign. This isn't just a photo, it's a protest against that new definition under which hills less than 100 meters in height are being denied the status of 'Aravalli.' My request to you is to change your profile picture and join this campaign.”


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