A petition concerning alleged unauthorised elephant rides near Amber Fort has brought renewed attention to wildlife regulation, tourist safety, and enforcement of heritage-area rules in Jaipur. The Rajasthan High Court has issued notices to the state government and several respondents, and has also directed that wildlife authorities be impleaded in the matter. The respondents have been given three weeks to file replies.
Petition and Court Action
The case was filed by Elephant Village Development Society, Jaipur. A single-judge bench of Justice Sameer Jain issued notices to the state government through the principal secretary of the department of art, literature, culture and archaeology, along with other departments and officials. The court also asked that wildlife authorities be made parties to the case.
Claims on Unauthorised Rides
The petition alleges that elephant rides near Amber Fort are being conducted by private persons outside the authorised system. It claims that these rides are illegal and are being operated without proper regulation. The petition further states that tourists are being charged between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 per ride.
Role of Hathi Gaon and Existing Rules
According to the plea, Hathi Gaon was created to house elephant shelters, known as thaanas, in line with guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The petition says that around 100 elephants were initially kept there, and the settlement later expanded with mahouts and their families. It also states that elephant rides at Amber Fort should be regulated under the Amber Ghat Vehicles Rules, 1976.
Concerns Over Enforcement
The petition raises concerns over alleged failure by the authorities to stop unauthorised rides outside designated areas such as Hathi Gaon. It says repeated representations and notices did not lead to effective action. The case marks the wider issue of regulating animal-based tourism in heritage zones while ensuring compliance with legal and wildlife safeguards.
Last Modified: April 27, 2026