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.A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N Kotiswar Singh expressed shock that MCD had no record of ownership details of the land where one of the earliest surviving Islamic palaces of India is located near Nizamuddin dargah.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.Observing that the entire zone falls under MCD, the bench asked the counsel appearing for the corporation about it. “We could not find that this land was under us,” the counsel for MCD said.“You are totally casual and that is why this has happened. You are not even bothered about your areas,” the bench said. “How can we accept it?”MCD’s counsel said the corporation would file an affidavit on the matter.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.“There is absolutely no seriousness on your (ASI) part,” the bench told the ASI director-general who was present in court.“Look what has happened due to your negligence, a 13th century monument is not even notified. Land sharks have taken over. Softness of this court is being mistaken for weakness…. 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.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 bench said the time has come for drastic action.“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.While hearing the matter in Aug, the top court had taken serious note of the condition of the monuments and pulled up MCD and ASI. The observations came after the bench was apprised of media reports highlighting the poor condition and encroachment of the Lodhi-era tombs.The court also asked Delhi Golf Club to file a note explaining the process of giving membership. “Give us the criteria, the process and classification you follow,” it said.
