New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday lamented the “absolute lack of cohesion” between various departments in charge of the upkeep of several heritage monuments in the capital and warned that it will “start suspending” officials for their casual approach.
Officers are only holding posts, zero delivery,” the bench said as it decided to summon the top bosses of all stakeholder departments, including the secretary of Union ministry of culture and the commissioner of MCD, to appear before it on Oct 15. “Look what has happened due to your negligence, a 13th century monument is not even notified. The court’s poser drew a blank from the corporation after the court-appointed amicus, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, told it about the condition of Lal Mahal, a 13th-century palace in Nizamuddin, and revealed that a team deputed by the court could not inspect the site as it is under the control of private owners who have cordoned off the area.
“There is absolutely no seriousness on your (ASI) part,” the bench told the ASI director-general who was present in court. “We make it clear any other engagement of these officers stands cancelled and no substitute official will replace them for the next hearing,” the court stressed, adding that by way of a last indulgence, it was refraining from passing any stringent order. The court also dealt with the issue of encroachment at some Lodhi-era tombs in south Delhi’s Zamrudpur area and pulled up ASI for not taking appropriate steps for the protection and preservation of these heritage monuments. Land sharks have taken over. Softness of this court is being mistaken for weakness…. Besides these, the court has asked the DG, ASI, vice-chairperson of Delhi Development Authority (DDA), secretary of the department of archaeology of Delhi govt, MD of Delhi Tourism and chairperson NDMC to be present next week, indicating that it intends to form a committee to protect these monuments. the top court had taken serious note of the condition of the monuments and pulled up MCD and ASI While hearing the matter in Aug. The observations came after the bench was apprised of media reports highlighting the poor condition and encroachment of the Lodhi-era tombs.