The Supreme Court of India has instructed Delhi’s archaeology department to devise a comprehensive restoration plan for the historic Lodhi-era monument, the “Gumti of Shaikh Ali.” During a session on Tuesday, Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah highlighted the urgent need for preservation efforts, noting the monument’s significant cultural and historical value.
The bench also ordered the Defence Colony Welfare Association, which has been using the 15th-century structure as its office, to peacefully transfer possession of the site to the Land And Development Office within two weeks. This follows a report by Swapna Liddle, former convener of the Delhi chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), which detailed the extent of damage and the necessary steps for restoration.
The Supreme Court’s intervention came after it was revealed that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had failed to protect the monument adequately. The bench criticized the ASI for allowing the resident welfare association to occupy the structure since the 1960s, accusing it of neglecting its duty to safeguard ancient structures.
The situation was exacerbated by findings from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, which indicated that the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) had made several alterations to the building, including the addition of a false ceiling, further compromising the integrity of the monument.
The court’s frustration was evident as it questioned the ASI’s commitment to its mandate and chastised the RWA for justifying its prolonged occupation of the site by claiming it prevented vandalism by anti-social elements. Justice Amanullah expressed particular displeasure with the RWA’s justification and its use of the ancient tomb as an air-conditioned office without paying rent.
This legal action originated from a petition by Rajiv Suri, a resident of Defence Colony, who challenged a 2019 Delhi High Court decision that refused to declare the structure a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958. Suri’s plea emphasized historical evidence, including references from a 1920 survey of Delhi monuments by British era archaeologist Maulvi Zafar Hasan.
