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ASI given last opportunity to present original file
Amar Ujala Bureau
New Delhi. The High Court on Friday expressed displeasure over the authorities not presenting the file containing the decision of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to declare the historic Mughal-era Jama Masjid in the national capital as a protected monument. Justice Pratibha M Singh and Justice Amit Sharma The bench said that despite earlier orders, loose pages and other documents were produced instead of records relating to the mosque’s status as a monument, its current residents etc.
The court has given a last chance to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the case and sought an affidavit and also the original file on the next date of hearing in October. The court asked the ASI Director General to directly monitor the case and hold a meeting with central government counsel Anil Soni and Manish Mohan to ensure that a comprehensive affidavit is filed. The high court was hearing PILs seeking directions to the authorities to declare Jama Masjid as a protected monument and remove encroachments from its surroundings. On August 28, the court had directed the Union Culture Ministry and ASI to present before it the file containing the decision of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which had said that Jama Masjid should not be declared a protected monument.
During Friday’s hearing, the bench asked the ASI officer present in the court about non-compliance of the order and said who is not giving the file? We will call the secretary.
In August 2015, the ASI had told the court that then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured Shahi Imam that Jama Masjid would not be declared a protected monument. The court was also told that since Jama Masjid is not a centrally protected monument, it does not fall under the jurisdiction of ASI.
Manmohan Singh, in his letter dated October 20, 2004, had assured Shahi Imam that Jama Masjid would not be declared a centrally protected monument.