The Supreme Court of India on Thursday halted the Haryana government’s proposed Aravalli zoo safari project in Gurugram, declaring that “not a single inch of land” in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli range can be used until a clear and comprehensive definition of the Aravalli hills is finalised.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made it clear that no further steps can be taken on the project while the court is examining a broader issue concerning the legal and ecological definition of the Aravalli range in a separate case related to mining rights.
“Aravalli is a composite range. It neither starts in Haryana nor ends in Haryana. There is no scope of permitting the project unless there is a clear definition on Aravalli,” the bench observed.
The directive came while the court was hearing a plea filed by five retired Indian Forest Service officers challenging the safari project. The applicants argued that the development would cause irreversible ecological damage to the fragile forest landscape.
The matter has now been tagged with the ongoing suo motu proceedings on defining the Aravalli hills and is likely to be listed on February 26.
In December 2025, the apex court initiated suo motu proceedings after a November 20 judgment defined the Aravalli hills as formations with an elevation of 100 metres or more above local relief.
The definition drew criticism from environmental experts who argued that it was ambiguous and could weaken protection for large parts of the ancient mountain system. The court subsequently kept its earlier order in abeyance and sought suggestions on appointing independent experts to revisit the definition while safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Aravalli range.
The Haryana government, represented by Additional Advocate General Lokesh Singhal, informed the court that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had been asked to submit its report on the project.
The CEC, in a report submitted on February 10, recommended that the state place on record a revised detailed project report (DPR), along with geo-referenced maps, land details, statutory approvals and environmental assessments.
Singhal urged the court to permit preparation of the revised DPR in line with the CEC’s observations.
However, the bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, refused to allow any forward movement on the project.
“We have already passed an order on October 8, 2025, that no further action with respect to the project be taken. The step to prepare DPR is a step forward in this direction,” the court said.
The bench further cautioned that the state might attempt to present a “rosy picture” by highlighting tree plantation and green cover enhancement to secure approval.
“We are not going to grant permission over a single inch of land in this area unless we get an independent expert body to examine all these issues,” it added.
The petitioners, represented by advocate Shibani Ghosh, contended that the safari would be a “death knell” for the fragile ecosystem. They alleged that the project would involve large-scale construction of permanent infrastructure, including guest houses, staff quarters, animal enclosures, roads and utility networks within a protected forest landscape.
The Haryana government had earlier stated in an affidavit that an initial proposal to earmark 10,000 acres had been dropped and the revised plan would cover approximately 3,300 acres.
According to the state, 30% of the demarcated land would be used for enclosures, while 70% would remain as a green zone. The government argued that the project would function as a conservation initiative, with the area enclosed by a boundary wall and restored using native flora.
The court’s intervention underscores growing judicial scrutiny of development projects in ecologically sensitive zones. The Aravalli range, one of the world’s oldest mountain systems, stretches across multiple states and plays a crucial role in preventing desertification, recharging groundwater and regulating regional climate.
By freezing the project, the Supreme Court has signalled that conservation priorities will take precedence until a scientifically robust and legally sound definition of the Aravallis is established.
For now, the fate of the Haryana zoo safari project remains tied to the larger constitutional and ecological debate over how the Aravalli hills should be defined and protected.