The Hindu : Red Fort renovation work suspended, Centre tells Supreme Court

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Saturday, Nov 29, 2003

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Red Fort renovation work suspended, Centre tells Supreme Court

By Our Legal Correspondent

New Delhi Nov. 28 . The Centre today informed the Supreme Court that the renovation and restoration work at the Red Fort had been suspended, and the objections raised in a petition about the standard of the ongoing work had been referred to an expert committee.

The Solicitor-General, Kirit N. Raval, submitted before a Bench, comprising the Chief Justice V. N. Khare and Justice S. B. Sinha, that the committee of experts, including eminent conservationists, would look into the objections of the petitioners and suggest a holistic plan in view of the Army's decision to give back large areas at the Red Fort under its control.

Senior counsel Harish Salve, who was appointed amicus curiae by the court to assist in the matter, said he had inspected the work being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and would file an application by December 8 seeking certain directions.

Appearing for the petitioners, Rajeev Sethi and others, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, said the work being carried out by the ASI was not in conformity with the international standards of renovation and sought stay of the work.

Declining to stay the work in view of the undertaking given by the Solicitor-General, the Bench asked the Centre and the petitioners to reply to that application and posted the matter for further hearing on December 12.

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