A Critical Study of the Aravali Hills Case: Sustainability through Judicial Activism

Abstract

Establishing the obligation to properly conserve the Aravalli Hills and Ranges, one of the oldest geological features on planet earth, the Apex court reopened the Aravalli conservation issue marking a significant moment in Indian environmental justice. In northern part of the country, the Aravalli range plays a vital role in maintaining environmental balance, biodiversity, and climate stability. Paradoxically, fragmented governance and weak enforcement of environmental norms caused mining, urban expansion, and regulatory dilution which in turn resulted in ecological degradation. The present research tries to examine the judicial intervention through the lens of constitutional environmentalism. The study starts with analysis how the Court’s decision to reopen the issue transcends procedural finality to address continuing environmental harm, intergenerational equity, and the public trust doctrine. It further tries to explore the Court’s proactive approach in enforcing sustainable development principles, precautionary norms, and the right to a healthy environment as an integral component of the right to life. By situating the Aravalli case within the broader trajectory of Indian environmental jurisprudence, the paper argues that such judicial engagement reflects an evolving model of constitutional guardianship, where courts assume responsibility for safeguarding ecological interests.