JODHPUR, May 22 -- Invoking its suo motu jurisdiction, the Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday directed the State government and 14 other respondents to file detailed responses on the acute drinking-water crisis in Jodhpur, observing that access to clean water is an integral facet of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. A division bench of Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Dr. Nupur Bhati registered the matter as a suo motu public interest litigation titled 'In Re: Acute Water Crisis in Jodhpur City and Deteriorating Condition of Ancient Water Sources'. The court acted on the basis of multiple newspaper reports published between May 15 and May 20, 2026, which revealed critically depleted storage levels, disruption in canal supply, illegal water extraction, and neglect of traditional water bodies. "The right to clean and safe drinking water has been recognized as an integral facet of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, since access to potable water is indispensable for survival, public health, sanitation and dignified human existence," the bench said. The bench noted that reports prima facie disclose that the issue is not confined to a temporary shortage of supply but reflects a deeper, continuing crisis arising from depletion, pollution, encroachment and neglect of traditional water bodies and reservoirs. It highlighted that out of 43 dams in the Jodhpur zone, 19 have completely dried up, while the remaining are functioning at critically low storage levels. The daily water requirement of the city, home to approximately 2 million residents, exceeds 210 million litres per day. The bench also took serious note of reports indicating that sewage water and waste material are being discharged into ancient canal systems connected with historical water bodies, including the Gulab Sagar-Fateh Sagar canal system. As an interim measure, the court directed authorities to immediately prevent discharge of sewage and untreated effluents into traditional water bodies and canals, ensure cleaning and desiltation of surviving water structures, take strict action against illegal water extraction and black-marketing....