India, Sept. 7 -- The Rajasthan High Court has put in place a comprehensive regulatory framework for protecting the leopard habitat of Jawai in Pali district, including a one-km construction-control zone around identified caves, dens, breeding sites, corridors and other critical habitat features.

A division bench of Justices Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Rekha Borana, pronouncing its order on Saturday on a PIL, directed the authorities to strictly enforce the state government's March 31, 2015 order which bars new commercial activities such as hotels, resorts, besides industrial activity including mining and land conversion, within one km of the notified Jawai Leopard Conservation Reserves.

Importantly, the bench said the one-km distance wo...