In a pivotal legal ruling, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has overturned a 2013 order by the MP Waqf Board which had claimed ownership of several historic monuments in Burhanpur district. These include the tombs of Shah Shuja and Nadir Shah, along with Bibi Sahib’s Masjid and a palace within the fort of Burhanpur.
The Waqf Board’s assertion was contested by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has been safeguarding these sites under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904. The ASI argued that these monuments are central government properties, hence the claim by the Waqf Board was inappropriate.
Justice GS Ahluwalia of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, presiding over the case, declared on July 26 that the monuments in question are indeed ancient and protected. He noted that the CEO of the MP Waqf Board had committed a “material illegality” in ordering the ASI to vacate these monuments, leading to the reversal of the Waqf Board’s 2013 decision.
