SC Stays Aravalli Order, Frames 5 Questions, Seeks Expert Panel

• Supreme Court on December 29, 2025, stayed its own November 20, 2025 decision regarding the Aravalli Hills, citing concerns over the range's definition.
• A three-judge bench led by CJI Justice Surya Kant heard arguments from SG Tushar Mehta and framed 5 critical questions on Aravalli's conservation and mining.
• The Court suggested forming a high-powered expert committee to re-examine the definition, environmental impact, and mining regulations in the Aravalli region.
• The previous order will remain ineffective until the expert committee's report is submitted and the Supreme Court reaches a final conclusion.
• Notices have been issued to the central government and states like Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan; the next hearing is on January 21, 2026.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court halts Aravalli decision, seeks expert clarity on definition and mining to protect ecology.