India, Dec. 30 -- The Supreme Court on Monday stayed its November 20 judgment narrowing the definition of Aravalli hills to landforms rising at least 100 metres above the surrounding terrain, holding that there was a "dire need to further probe and clarify" the issue to prevent regulatory gaps that could undermine the ecological integrity of one of India's most fragile and significant mountain systems.

Hearing the matter suo motu (on its own), a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih ordered that the earlier judgment and the recommendations of a court-appointed committee be kept "in abeyance" until a comprehensive re-examination is carried out with the assistance of a high-powered panel...