Rajasthan HC Flags Rs 130 Crore Tap Water Scam, Asks State for Jal Jeevan Mission Road Map
A PIL exposing contractor corruption in Rajasthan's tap water scheme has prompted the High Court to press both State and Centre on completing Jal Jeevan Mission coverage across the State.
The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Chandra Shekhar Sharma at the Jaipur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court took up a PIL filed by the society Public Against Corruption on 13 August 2026, examining two separate but related concerns: the ongoing criminal and recovery proceedings arising from a Rs 130 crore corruption scandal in Rajasthan's tap water programme, and the pace of implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission across the State. The bench directed the State Government's Advocate General to appear on the next date with a concrete road map for completing the Mission, and asked both State and Central governments to accelerate efforts to bring drinking water to every household.
The PIL and the Tap Water Scam
The petition was brought by the society Public Against Corruption under D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 19620/2023. It was filed to highlight corruption that had surfaced in a department responsible for providing tap water connections to a large number of houses across Rajasthan. Contractors assigned this work had allegedly disbursed funds without carrying out actual construction or installation.
According to the order, the information placed before the court through the petition led directly to the State issuing notices and lodging FIRs against concerned officials. Multiple officers were arrested. Investigations revealed that approximately Rs 130 crore had been disbursed without any corresponding work being performed on the ground.
Criminal cases have been registered and are now before the relevant trial courts. Mr. Poonam Chand Bhandari appeared for the petitioner, while Mr. Bharat Vyas, Additional Solicitor General, led the Union of India's side, assisted by several counsel including Mr. Guru Charan Singh Gill, AAG for the State.
Enforcement Directorate Action and PMLA Attachment
At the hearing, the ASG informed the bench that the Directorate of Enforcement had also stepped in. Properties worth Rs 47.79 crore belonging to fifteen persons have been attached. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act authority issued confirmation orders for these attachments on 20 November 2025. The formal auctioning and recovery process is described as under way.
The bench acknowledged the criminal law process taking its course but trained attention on a gap: while prosecutions proceed, recovery of the misappropriated public funds from the accused persons needs equal urgency. The court expressed its expectation that the State Government would take initiative on recovery proceedings, noting that the money involved is public exchequer funds wrongfully taken away.
Jal Jeevan Mission: Coverage Gap in Rajasthan
The bench had, on the previous date of 30 June 2026, asked both the Union of India and the State Government to provide details of steps taken for implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission in Rajasthan. The ASG placed on record a statement made by the Minister of Jal Shakti Department in Parliament on 19 July 2026, informing that 63.63 lakh houses have been provided with tap water connections in the State.
The court observed that in 2019, a total of 107.66 lakh houses were identified in Rajasthan as requiring drinking water. With seven years having passed since that baseline, the bench reasoned that the number of houses needing coverage would by now have grown substantially beyond the 2019 figure. On that basis, 63.63 lakh houses covered leaves a considerable portion of the population yet to receive piped water.
The bench directed both governments to act with urgency. It asked the Central Government to ensure appropriate funds are released periodically and called for accountability to be fixed on officers where there is any delay or slack in completing the work. The bench observed that Rajasthan, as a desert State, should be given priority over other States in securing drinking water for its population.
The court stated that “the human beings first requirement is to quench his thirst” and that drinking water is essential, framing the Mission not merely as a government scheme but as a matter directly tied to basic needs.
Connected Suo Moto Proceedings
A connected matter, D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 9099/2026, has been taken up suo moto by the court. This petition is also titled against the Union of India and proceeds alongside the original PIL. Both matters were heard together on 13 August 2026 before the same Division Bench.
Outcome
The bench directed learned AAG Mr. G. S. Gill to inform the court on the next date of the State Government's road map for completing the Jal Jeevan Mission in Rajasthan. It also directed that a rejoinder, as ordered on an earlier date, be filed before the next hearing. Both matters are listed for 9 September 2026.