Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Jaipur's Walled City heritage faces development challenge in court
Jaipur is a very old city in India, built about 300 years ago.
The old part of the city is called the Walled City, and it is famous for its pink buildings, busy markets, and wide streets.
Because it is so special, an organisation called UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site, meaning the whole world wants to protect it.
Some people think new buildings and shops are being built without permission in one part called Chaura Rasta.
A person named Jitendra Sharma asked a court, called the Rajasthan High Court, to look into this problem.
The court is now asking the government of Rajasthan to explain what is happening.
The hard part is that the city also needs new buildings and modern shops for the people who live and work there.
Nobody wants to lose the old pink look that makes Jaipur special.
The court will try to help the city grow without destroying its old beauty, and everyone is waiting to hear what the government says.
The Rajasthan High Court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation over alleged illegal construction and commercial activities in Chaura Rasta, a designated residential zone in Jaipur's Walled City.
The PIL, filed by Jitendra Sharma, claims the Municipal Corporation issued notices but did not take effective action afterward.
Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II, and its Walled City was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Indrajit Singh and Sandeep Taneja stressed protecting Jaipur's heritage and sought responses from the Rajasthan government.
The case highlights the challenge of balancing necessary development and modern facilities with heritage regulations in the historic Pink City.
- Who
- Petitioner Jitendra Sharma, the Rajasthan High Court Division Bench of Justices Indrajit Singh and Sandeep Taneja, the Rajasthan government, and the Municipal Corporation.
- What
- A Public Interest Litigation alleging illegal construction and commercial activity in the residential Chaura Rasta area of Jaipur's Walled City, with the court seeking responses from the state government.
- When
- The date of the hearing is not specified in the article; proceedings are ongoing.
- Where
- Chaura Rasta in Jaipur's Walled City, Rajasthan, India; heard at the Rajasthan High Court.
- Why
- To address alleged illegal construction threatening the heritage character of the UNESCO-listed Walled City and to balance urban development with heritage conservation.
Heritage Conservation
Urban Development
Development vs Heritage Preservation
Heritage Conservation
Jaipur's Walled City must be strictly protected: illegal construction and commercial activity in residential zones should be stopped, and heritage regulations should be enforced to preserve the UNESCO-listed urban character, streetscapes and facades.
Urban Development
The Walled City is a living commercial centre that cannot be preserved as a museum; development and modern facilities are necessary for traders, residents and artisans, so change must be accommodated alongside heritage rules.
- City
- Jaipur (the Pink City), founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II
- Heritage status
- Walled City recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019
- Affected area
- Chaura Rasta, a designated residential zone in the Walled City
- Petitioner
- Jitendra Sharma
- Court
- Rajasthan High Court, Division Bench of Justices Indrajit Singh and Sandeep Taneja
- Allegation
- Illegal construction and commercial activities despite prior Municipal Corporation notices
- Current action
- Court has sought responses from the Rajasthan government and other concerned parties