Mehrauli Historic Religious Structure: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court demanding protection of religious structures in Mehrauli, Delhi. In the petition, the top court has been specifically requested to give instructions for the protection of these centuries-old religious structures, including the 13th century Ashiq Allah Dargah (1317 AD) and Baba Farid’s Chillagah located in Mehrauli.
According to the report of Live Law, the petitioner challenged the February 8 order passed by the Delhi High Court in this regard in the Supreme Court. In the order given by the High Court, it was refused to pass specific instructions for the protection of religious structures. The High Court had disposed of the petition after recording the undertaking given by the authorities. An undertaking was given that no protected monument or national monument declared by the Central or State authority would be demolished.
Important comments were also made regarding unauthorized encroachment
The High Court also commented on unauthorized encroachment in its order. The court also commented on the need to balance the right to inheritance and the right to breathe.
DDA has taken demolition action against many structures
In the petition filed before the High Court, a request was made to save the ancient heritage from demolition. It was feared that the Dargah and Chillagah located in Mehrauli could be the next in the chain of demolition. Earlier, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had done the work of demolishing the 600 year old mosque Akhonji in the area. Apart from this, the Madrasa Bahrul Uloom and various graves of the area have also been demolished.
The petitioner gave several arguments in the court regarding encroachment
Challenging the order of the High Court, a person named Zameer Ahmed Jumlana has approached the Supreme Court against the demolition of all these historical structures. This petition was filed through Talha Abdul Rehman. By giving all these arguments through the petition, the apex court has been requested to protect all these historical structures. On behalf of the petitioner, arguments were given in the court that all these have cultural specialties and religious importance which have remained intact for many centuries. All this should not be seen as encroachment on public land.
Appeal to give legal protection to ancient monuments
The petitioner also argued that ancient monuments and heritage sites should get legal protection under the existing laws under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. In the petition, serious concern has also been expressed about the arbitrary demolition of religious structures including mosques and tombs etc.
