SC Directs Contempt Notice to ASI Regarding Delhi’s Heritage Sites

A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N Kotiswar Singh said, “The court takes strong exception to the deliberate violation of the order of this court. Accordingly, notice is issued to the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India to showcause as to why the court may not initiate proceedings for contempt against him. He shall be personally present before the court on the next date of listing along with his show-cause.”

The court directed the ASI chief to appear in person at the next hearing.

Reviewing compliance by other agencies, the bench noted that the Delhi government’s Department of Archaeology had identified and inspected 19 monuments, with compliance reported on most aspects except location and geo-mapping.

The court said, “However, only a general statement has been made that there has been compliance on the issues indicated in the earlier orders. We direct for a further affidavit to be filed giving details of the 19 sites which, according to the Department of Archaeology, GNCTD, comes within its jurisdiction and which have also been inspected. It shall refer to all the areas indicated in our previous orders, and also to what steps have been taken monument-wise. It should include up-to-date photographs of the sites in question.”

The bench also observed that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi had surveyed 62 of the 85 identified monuments, with certain aspects of the exercise still incomplete, and sought detailed status reports.

Regarding the New Delhi Municipal Council, the court noted that only two of 54 identified monuments had been surveyed. It said NDMC must coordinate with other agencies for maintenance and monitoring, adding that further directions would be issued based on its submissions.

The matter arose from a petition filed by Rajeev Suri highlighting encroachment of the Gumti of Shaikh Ali, a Lodhi-era monument in Defence Colony.