New Delhi, Dec. 30 -- Leaders across political lines and environmentalists on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court's stay on its November 20 judgment that narrowed the definition of the Aravalli range, with Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav promising all assistance in the protection and restoration of the Aravallis.

The Opposition, too, hailed the verdict but called for Yadav's resignation, saying the order was a "rejection of all the arguments he has been giving in favour of the redefinition".

The top court on Monday "put in abeyance" its November 20 ruling to accept an expert committee's recommendation to define the Aravallis purely on an elevation-based criterion. Under that definition, only landforms rising at least 100 metres...