The Rajasthan High Court has initiated suo motu proceedings over the deteriorating condition of Jaipur’s historic Walled City and warned that the area could lose its UNESCO World Heritage Site status if effective corrective measures are not taken before December 2026.
Justice Pramil Kumar Mathur issued notices to 10 state and local authorities and directed the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) and the city’s municipal corporations to conduct a survey of unauthorised and unregulated constructions affecting the Walled City. The authorities have been asked to submit their report within two weeks.
The proceedings were initiated after the court took note of a newspaper report highlighting threats to Jaipur’s heritage character.
The court observed that failure to take adequate remedial steps before December 2026 could put the Walled City’s UNESCO recognition at serious risk. It said withdrawal of the status could affect the local economy, reduce Jaipur’s global standing and amount to a failure to protect the heritage entrusted to the present generation.
Court Flags Illegal Construction And Encroachments
The High Court expressed concern over the condition of the Walled City, which was granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2019.
It referred to reports of illegal constructions, unauthorised alterations and encroachments within the core and buffer zones of the heritage area.
The court also noted that traditional palaces were gradually disappearing and being replaced by modern structures that were inconsistent with the city’s visual and cultural character.
According to the court, development activities were reportedly being carried out without proper heritage impact assessments, while enforcement mechanisms appeared weak or virtually absent.
UNESCO Concerns Raised Earlier
The High Court noted that UNESCO had raised concerns regarding the condition of Jaipur’s heritage area in 2023 and reiterated them in 2025. Despite this, the situation appeared to have remained substantially unaddressed.
The court said existing administrative measures had so far proved inadequate considering the seriousness and scale of the problem. It cautioned that without strict, time-bound and enforceable measures, the damage could soon become irreversible.
Authorities Asked To Explain Construction Permissions
The state and local authorities have been directed to disclose whether heritage impact assessments or expert evaluations were carried out before granting construction permissions near heritage precincts.
The court has also sought information on the extent of unauthorised construction during the last five years and action taken against violators, including demolition, sealing, prosecution and imposition of penalties.
The authorities must further clarify whether buffer zones, height restrictions and architectural control norms have been prescribed around heritage sites and to what extent these requirements are being enforced.
The High Court has also sought reasons for any failure in implementing existing planning and conservation regulations that may have contributed to deterioration, alteration or depletion of the Walled City’s heritage character.
Phased Restoration Plan Sought
The authorities have been directed to prepare and submit a phased action plan containing both immediate and long-term measures to prevent further degradation of heritage structures.
The plan must also address steps required to restore and preserve the historical and cultural character of Jaipur’s Walled City.
