Jaipur : The Rajasthan High Court has warned that Jaipur’s iconic Walled City could risk losing its Unesco World Heritage status unless urgent corrective measures are taken before December. Justice Pramil Kumar Mathur passed the order on September 26 after taking note of a newspaper report on the preservation of Jaipur’s heritage, along with Unesco material on the conservation of the site.
Court noted that the UN body had raised concerns in both 2023 and 2025 over the conservation of the site, including reports of historic houses being demolished and shortcomings in enforcement. The court said the situation could affect the architectural character that led to Jaipur receiving the heritage designation. It also flagged weak enforcement, delays in heritage management plans and inadequate coordination among authorities.
Authorities have also been asked to explain the heritage protection framework, action taken against violations, zoning and height restrictions, buffer-zone safeguards and whether heritage assessments were carried out before construction permissions were granted. While issuing notices to the state authorities, the court directed them to explain whether heritage impact assessments or expert evaluations had been conducted before granting permissions for construction near heritage precincts.
It also sought details on the extent of unauthorised construction over the past five years, and action taken against violators, including demolition, sealing, prosecution and penalties. The authorities have been asked to disclose whether buffer zones, height restrictions and architectural control norms have been prescribed around heritage sites, and the extent to which these rules are being followed.
The court has sought to know the reasons for the apparent failure, if any, in enforcing existing planning and conservation regulations, resulting in deterioration, alteration, or depletion of heritage character.
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