📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Tisha Mukherjee
National
Rajasthan High Court Sets 1‑km Interim Protection Zone Around Jawai Leopard Habitat
✍️ Live Law
🗓 08 Sep 2026, 06:18 PM
👁 4
The Rajasthan High Court ordered a one‑kilometre interim regulatory zone around the leopard habitats in Jawai, restricting certain activities within the perimeter.
The Rajasthan High Court issued an interim order on [date not specified] creating a one‑kilometre buffer zone around the identified leopard habitats in the Jawai region of Pali district. The order aims to curb human‑wildlife conflict and protect the critically important leopard population that has been thriving in the semi‑arid landscape.
Under the order, any construction, mining, tourism infrastructure, or other disruptive activities within the 1‑km radius are prohibited until a comprehensive management plan is finalized. Authorities have been directed to monitor the zone, enforce the restrictions, and coordinate with forest officials to ensure compliance.
The court also directed the state wildlife department to submit a detailed report on habitat conservation measures and community engagement strategies within 30 days. Stakeholders, including local residents and tourism operators, have been asked to cooperate with enforcement agencies to balance livelihood concerns with wildlife protection.
Legal experts note that the interim zone is a temporary measure, pending a final verdict that could make the restrictions permanent. The decision reflects growing judicial activism in India’s environmental jurisprudence, especially in regions where apex predators coexist with human settlements.
Under the order, any construction, mining, tourism infrastructure, or other disruptive activities within the 1‑km radius are prohibited until a comprehensive management plan is finalized. Authorities have been directed to monitor the zone, enforce the restrictions, and coordinate with forest officials to ensure compliance.
The court also directed the state wildlife department to submit a detailed report on habitat conservation measures and community engagement strategies within 30 days. Stakeholders, including local residents and tourism operators, have been asked to cooperate with enforcement agencies to balance livelihood concerns with wildlife protection.
Legal experts note that the interim zone is a temporary measure, pending a final verdict that could make the restrictions permanent. The decision reflects growing judicial activism in India’s environmental jurisprudence, especially in regions where apex predators coexist with human settlements.