ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 27th May. Click Here for more information.
What is the News?
The Supreme Court of India has refused to stop the demolition of over 10,000 settlements encroaching on forests in the Aravalli range in Haryana’s Faridabad district.
What was the case about?
- Public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the demolition of the settlements.
- The petitioners had also asked the court for more time to produce documents to claim rehabilitation.
What did the Supreme Court say?
- The Supreme Court has refused to stop the demolition. It said that the residents had enough time to prove their claims in accordance with a notification issued by Haryana in 2020.
- The court also said the onus was on the State to rehabilitate the residents in compliance with a 2003 scheme. Hence, demolition should continue.
About Aravalli Range:
Read Also :-Are courts encroaching on the powers of the executive?
- Aravalli Range is the oldest mountain range in India and one of the oldest mountain systems in the world.
- The Aravalli range is spread across the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi.
- History:
- The natural history of the Aravalli Range dates back to times when the Indian Plate was separated from the Eurasian Plate by an ocean.
- Mining of copper and other metals in the Aravalli range dates back to at least the 5th century BCE, based on carbon dating.
- Rivers: The three major rivers and their tributaries flow from the Aravalli. Namely Banas and Sahibi rivers which are tributaries of Yamuna, as well as Luni River which flows into the Rann of Kutch.
- Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar Peak on Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range (1,722 m).
Source: The Hindu
