HC recalls airport–Haldighati 100-feet road order, refers matter to new bench over conflict concern

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court Monday recalled its earlier order directing the widening of the road linking Jaipur Airport to Haldighati Circle via Pratap Nagar to 100 feet and referred the matter to another bench for fresh adjudication.A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sanjeet Prasad passed the order while hearing petitions filed by residents likely to be affected by the proposed road widening.The earlier directive, issued on Oct 13, 2025, cleared the road project in accordance with the city’s 2011 sector plan, which envisioned improved connectivity from the airport to Pratap Nagar through Haldighati Circle. However, the project soon drew strong opposition from locals, many of whom face displacement as their houses fall along the proposed route.During the latest hearing, counsel for one of the petitioners, Kawal Singh Loha, moved an application highlighting a potential conflict of interest. He submitted that Acting Chief Justice Sharma previously appeared in the same matter as a designated senior advocate in 2013, representing petitioners. “On this ground, we requested the court to recall its earlier order,” Loha told TOI Tuesday.Taking note of the submission, the court decided to recall its Oct 2025 order and directed that the case be placed before a different bench for a fresh hearing.Prahlad Sharma, counsel for other petitioners, argued that the earlier order put more than 300 houses at risk of demolition. He added that during the fresh hearing, the petitioners would strongly contest the authority of civic agencies to alter the road alignment arbitrarily. “The Jaipur Development Authority and the Jaipur Municipal Corporation cannot change the road alignment at their own will,” Sharma said.The earlier order also addressed issues related to alignment and execution, noting that different stretches of the proposed road fall under the jurisdiction of JDA and JMC.