The Hindu : SC notice to Centre, ASI on Red Fort renovation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003

National

National

SC notice to Centre, ASI on Red Fort renovation

By J. Venkatesan

New Delhi Oct. 27. The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre and the Archaeological Survey of India on a public interest litigation petition alleging that the restoration and conservation work being carried out at the Red Fort was destroying the heritage monument.

A Bench, comprising the Chief Justice, V.N. Khare, and Justice S.B. Sinha, issued notice to the Union Ministry for Culture and Tourism on an application filed along with the PIL seeking stay on the conservation work.

The petition, filed by Rajeev Sethi and six others, alleged that restoration work was continuing with complete disregard to international standards of conservation, leading to the concealment, material alteration and/or destruction of the historical integrity and authentic morphology of the Fort. They alleged that the Union Culture and Tourism Minister, Jagmohan, did not respond to their letters on the reported damage caused to the original work.

The petitioners said the historical evidence of the original morphology and material was being carelessly erased from the built fabric of the site, contrary to the ASI's standards of conservation and well below the accepted standards enumerated in various international charters.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National