India, Dec. 29 -- The Supreme Court on Monday stayed its November 20 judgment that had narrowed the definition of the Aravalli range to landforms rising at least 100 metres above the surrounding terrain, deciding to reopen and comprehensively re-examine the contentious question of what constitutes the Aravalli hills and how mining should be regulated in the region.

Hearing the matter suo motu, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih ordered that the November ruling be "put in abeyance" until the court undertakes a detailed examination of the issues with the assistance of domain experts. The bench also proposed the constitution of a high-powered expert committee to assess concerns relat...