Supreme Court seeks ASI, NMA reports in plea seeking protection of monuments in Delhi’s Mehrauli

The Judicial Division Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar had appealed against the Delhi High Court order, which refused to issue specific guidelines for protection of the structures.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the petitioners and authorities to first submit their views to a religious committee constituted by the court. The decision of the religious committee was to be recorded before it was implemented.

At the start of today’s hearing, the Supreme Court indicated that it is inclined to summon (ASI) as a party.Have them indicate which are the old monuments and which are the recent constructions.”, said Justice Khanna.

In this stadium, Senior Lawyer Siddharth Luthra, On behalf of the plaintiffs, the court noted that the National Monument Authority (NMA) is a party to a related case.

The Court then recorded the claimants’ claim that the meeting of the religious committee had not taken place. Therefore, the Court put the case back on the agenda in the week beginning September 23The Court also summoned ASI as a party and added:

“The ASI and the NMA are free to visit the site and submit the status report, which can also be submitted to the religious committee..”

The petition to the Supreme Court raised fears that the dargah and the chillagah in Mehrauli will soon be demolished by the Delhi Development Authority as the Delhi Development Authority in January also demolished a 600-year-old mosque, Masjid Akhonji, along with Madrasa Bahrul Uloom and several graves.

The High Court disposed of the case after recording the government body’s assurance that no protected monument or national monument would be demolished. In its order, the division bench headed by Justice Manmohan also made observations on unauthorised encroachment and the need to balance the right to heritage and the right to breathe.

To challenge the Supreme Court ruling, a man named Zameer Ahmed Jumlana approached the High Court opposing the demolition of the historic buildings.

To read our detailed story on the petition filed in the Supreme Court, click here

Case details: Zameer Ahmed Jumlana v. Delhi Development Authority (DDA) & Ors. | Diary No. 6711 of 2024