India, Feb. 13 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday placed on hold the Haryana government's Aravalli zoo safari project in Gurugram, saying it could not proceed until there is a clear definition of the Aravalli hills-pending in another case pertaining to mining rights. The top court made it clear that "not a single inch of land" in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli range will be permitted to be used for any purpose until experts comprehensively examine all aspects of the issue.

The court issued the directive while considering a plea filed by five retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, challenging tohe project.

Posting the matter, along with the suo motu petition on the definition of Aravalli hills, a bench headed by Chief Justice o...