Now Reading: SC raps MCD, ASI for ‘total callousness’ on Delhi tombs
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SC raps MCD, ASI for ‘total callousness’ on Delhi tombs
The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Archaeological Survey of India for the poor upkeep of heritage monuments in the national capital, describing their conduct…
The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Archaeological Survey of India for the poor upkeep of heritage monuments in the national capital, describing their conduct as 'total callousness' and suppression of facts. The bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N Kotiswar Singh was hearing a plea on preservation of Delhi's heritage structures.
The court directed the additional commissioner of the MCD and the director general of the ASI to appear in person and file affidavits showing cause why the court should not take serious action. The strong observations followed media reports cited in an application by petitioner Rajeev Suri about the poor condition and encroachment at Lodhi-era tombs in south Delhi's Zamrudpur area.
The court noted that the MCD had earlier claimed in a status report that one structure was satisfactory and encroachment was limited to three others. However, court-appointed commissioners reported that five Grade-I heritage buildings existed in the area, with one untraceable. The matter is listed for further hearing on October 7.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Supreme Court has been monitoring Delhi's heritage sites through this petition, and Monday's order escalates accountability to the personal level. The MCD and ASI together manage hundreds of listed monuments across the capital, and the court's demand for personal affidavits from top officials signals it is running out of patience with institutional non-compliance. The Zamrudpur tombs are Lodhi-era structures from the 15th-16th centuries, protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, but many fall under overlapping municipal jurisdiction. Encroachment and garbage dumping are chronic problems for urban heritage sites across India, where local bodies often lack resources or will to enforce protection. The court will hear the matter again on October 7, and the personal appearance of the MCD additional commissioner and ASI director general could set a precedent for how other cities manage their heritage assets.
Source: indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
