Today, On 31st July, The Supreme Court heard a plea to protect Lodhi-era Shaikh Ali Gumti under the AMASR Act and ordered that the “park must retain its natural form,” banning all construction activities and sports courts in the area.
The Supreme Court of India heard a case related to the protection of a centuries-old Lodhi-era monument named Shaikh Ali Gumti.
The petition filed before the Court seeks protection for this historical structure under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, which is meant to safeguard India’s cultural and historical heritage.
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah is heard the matter.
Also Read: “Declare ‘Gumti of Shaikh Ali’ Protected, No Delay Now”: Supreme Court Orders Delhi Govt
During the hearing, the Delhi government informed the Court that the restoration work on the monument has already started and is likely to be completed by the end of August.
According to the Delhi government, the conservation process is actively going on and there is no delay in efforts to restore the monument to its original form.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which is also involved in the matter, told the Court that they have already cleared waste from the park area surrounding the monument. They assured the bench that the maintenance work in the park will be continued regularly.
After hearing the updates from both the Delhi government and the MCD, the Supreme Court passed a very specific direction regarding the use and upkeep of the park where Shaikh Ali Gumti is located.
The Court said that,
“The park must retain its natural form“
Also made it very clear that,
“No use for sports courts or construction activities will be allowed in that area.”
The Supreme Court’s directions show that it is serious about protecting historical monuments and maintaining the natural surroundings of heritage sites.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had already instructed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and other authorities to remove all encroachments near the monument.