Supreme Court Seeks Reports From ASI & NMA In Plea To Protect Monuments In Delhi's Mehrauli
The Supreme Court today (July 29) impleaded the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in a plea seeking protection for centuries-old religious structures inside the Mehrauli Archaeological Park in Delhi, including the 13th-century Ashiq Allah Dargah (1317 AD) and Chillagah of Baba Farid.
The Court sought status reports from the ASI and the National Monument Authority (NMA).
The Division Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar were hearing an SLP against the Delhi High Court's order, which refused to pass specific directions for protecting the structures.
Previously, the Top Court had directed the petitioners and authorities to make their representations to a court-constituted Religious Committee first. The decision taken by the Religious Committee was to be placed on record before its implementation.
At the beginning of today's hearing, the Top Court expressed its inclination to implead the (ASI) as a party. “Let them point out which are the old monuments and which are the recent constructions.”, Justice Khanna said.
At this stage, Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, for the petitioners, informed the Court that in a connected matter, the National Monument Authority (NMA) is a party.
Following this, the Court recorded the petitioners' submission that the Religious Committee meeting had not been held. Thus, the Court relisted the matter in the week commencing September 23. The Court also impleaded ASI as a party and added:
“It will be open for the ASI and NMA to visit the site and submit the status report, which may also be also be submit to the religious committee.”
The plea before the high court raised the apprehension that the dargah and the chillagah in Mehrauli will be demolished soon by the Delhi Development Authority in view of the fact that a 600-year-old mosque, Masjid Akhonji, was demolished by the Delhi Development Authority in January, along with Madrasa Bahrul Uloom and various graves.
The High Court disposed of the matter after recording the government authority's undertaking that no protected monument or national monument would be demolished. In its order, the division bench led by Justice Manmohan also made observations regarding unauthorised encroachments and the need to balance the right to heritage and the right to breathe.
Challenging the High Court's order, an individual named Zameer Ahmed Jumlana moved to the apex court, arguing against the demolition of the historic structures.
To read our detailed story on the plea filed before the Supreme Court, click here
Case Details: Zameer Ahmed Jumlana v. Delhi Development Authority (DDA) & Ors. | Diary No. 6711 of 2024