Supreme Court Forms Expert Panel on Aravallis, Halts Illegal Mining

• The Supreme Court will form an expert committee to define the Aravalli range, inviting recommendations from the Centre and stakeholders.
• Chief Justice Surya Kant's bench asked for names of environmentalists, scientists, and mining experts within four weeks for the committee.
• The court ordered the Rajasthan government to immediately stop all illegal mining operations, which were reported to be ongoing.
• Interim orders on the Aravalli definition will continue, allowing existing mining but banning new leases in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
• The court reversed its November 20 order, which had restricted the Aravalli definition, citing critical ambiguities regarding environmental protection.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court establishes expert committee and orders immediate halt to illegal mining in Aravallis.