Riverbed Road: Rajasthan HC Quashes Illegal Construction

In a significant ruling on May 26, 2026, the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur declared unlawful a link road constructed in Balotra. The road, intended to connect Kshatriyas' Morcha to the Mega Highway, was found to be within the flow area of the Luni River.

A division bench observed that construction on land officially recorded as 'gair mumkin nadi' is illegal and cannot be justified by public interest claims. The court expressed concern over the actions of PWD officials involved in the project.

The court emphasized that the natural flow and character of a river must be preserved. It suggested that if connectivity improvements are needed, engineering solutions like bridges or elevated structures should be employed instead of altering riverbeds.

Following a Public Interest Litigation challenging the construction, the court has directed the state government to file an affidavit and a special technical report within four weeks. This report is expected to detail further actions regarding the unlawful construction on the Luni River's land.