Latest news with #AncientMonumentsandArchaeologicalSitesandRemainsAct
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
HC gives ASI 6 weeks to submit report on Clive House restoration
1 2 Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Kolkata, to submit a report within six weeks on Clive House, the residence of the first British Governor of Bengal Presidency, Lord Clive. It is situated at Rashtraguru Avenue under South Dum Dum Municipality in North 24 Parganas. A division bench of justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De passed the order acting on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking the restoration of Clive House, now in its withered remains. The division bench directed ASI, Kolkata, to include in its report the status of the building and suggest ways for its renovation and restoration. The Clive House was shrouded in obscurity until 2000 when the ASI took its possession and declared it a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Counsels for the petitioners, SN Mookherjee and Bikram Banerjee, submitted to the court that 20-25 squatter families were residing on the premises, which had been witnessing unauthorised constructions. "The structure is fragile, vulnerable to collapse, and lacks regular maintenance," the counsels said. ASI counsel Ashoke Chakraborty endorsed the plea. Counsels pleaded with the court for its restoration in view of its historical significance and the archaeological importance of the area. Clive House came into prominence with the discovery of decorated early historical pottery from the archaeological mound upon which the structure stands. The ASI not only took possession of the house, it also undertook excavation work, revealing the earliest habitations in the history of Kolkata. The house has a reference in the written accounts of the British officers. Robert Orme was possibly the first to mention this house in 1798 in a publication named 'A History of Military Transactions of the British Nation in Indostan'. R C Sterndale in 1891 wrote about this building, calling it one of the oldest existing buildings in Bengal, though not in its present form.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Bid to snatch control of Tansen's tomb: How a 16th century monument in Bhopal has been repeatedly pulled into litigation
Madhya Pradesh High Court last week rejected a plea by a private person to allow religious and cultural practices at the tomb of the Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior, a protected monument of historical importance. The grave of Tansen, the legendary musician of Emperor Akbar's court, is located on the premises of the monument. Sufi tradition describes Tansen as a disciple of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus. The monument 'deserves to be protected with utmost care and caution', and it would be a 'national loss' if it loses 'its originality, sanctity and vitality', a Bench of Justices Anand Pathak and Hirdesh said on June 16. The monument in Gwalior The tomb, built some time after the death of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus in 1563, has significant architectural and historical value and is considered one of the most notable structures of Akbar's reign (1556-1605). The tomb is listed as a Centrally Protected Monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and has been maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) since 1962. The stone building 'anticipates trends yet to become popular in Mughal architecture, especially in eastern India', art historian Catherine B Asher wrote in her book, The New Cambridge History of India: Architecture of Mughal India (1992). The square building is topped by a large, squat dome and is flanked by chhatris, giving it a multi-tiered appearance. Around the tomb's central chamber runs a veranda with intricate stone screens, a design influence traced to Gujarat, where the saint had spent considerable time. These elements prefigure later monuments, such as the tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Fatehpur Sikri. Tansen is buried next to the tomb of the Sufi pir. His association with the site has deepened its cultural resonance, and for decades has attracted both pilgrims and music lovers. Petition and petitioner The petition was filed by Syed Sabla Hasan, who claimed to be the Sajjada Nashin, or spiritual caretaker of the tomb, as well as the saint's legal heir. He sought permission to perform religious and cultural practices at the tomb, including the annual Urs, a commemorative Sufi gathering. Hasan argued that these practices had been carried out for more than four centuries at the site, and that the restrictions on such events were arbitrary and unlawful. The ASI submitted that the petitioners were making false claims and were interfering with the upkeep and protection of the monument. It told the HC that unlawful activities were being carried out on the premises — including installation of electrical wiring, lights, tents, and even furnaces — nails were being hammered into walls, and a situation was being created that hampered tourism and undermined the structural integrity, and cultural and architectural dignity of the monument. The court agreed with the ASI that religious and cultural events could not be permitted at a Centrally Protected Monument. The court held that neither the petitioner nor his family had any legal right or title to the tomb, and that the matter had been litigated and settled multiple times over the past three decades. The ASI and the Union of India have consistently maintained that the matter had attained finality in law. * Back in 1995, one Peerzada Syed Ali Hasan filed a civil suit in the court of the Civil Judge Class-II, Gwalior, seeking ownership of the tomb. * After the court dismissed the 1995 suit, Ali Hasan's two sons and two daughters filed a First Appeal, which too, was dismissed in 2004 by a detailed judicial order. * In 1996, Ali Hasan's son Syed Muhammad Hasan filed a separate civil suit, which was dismissed in 1999. * A civil revision petition was filed against that ruling, which was rejected in 2002. * A second appeal was rejected in 2015. * A review petition filed before the Supreme Court was dismissed in 2016. Despite this long history of failures, Syed Sabla Hasan filed a case before the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Tribunal in 2019, seeking the ownership and religious control over the tomb. In 2022, this plea was dismissed, with the tribunal ruling in favour of the ASI.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tansen's grave ‘deserves to be protected': Madhya Pradesh HC denies nod for religious, cultural activities at Gwalior monument
Observing that the monument that houses the grave of Tansen, one of the 'nine jewels' in the court of Mughal emperor Akbar, deserves to be protected, the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed an appeal seeking permission to perform religious and cultural activities at the tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior. The tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus was declared a protected monument of national importance in 1962 under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. A Bench of Justice Anand Pathak and Justice Hirdesh noted that the monument 'deserves to be protected with utmost care and caution' and no such activities, as sought by the appellant, can be permitted. '…Constitutional vision and constitutional morality ought to prevail over personal and vested interest. It (the monument) deserves to be protected with utmost care and caution, and no activity as sought by the petitioner can be permitted, lest the monument lose its originality, sanctity and vitality. It would be a national loss then,' the court said on June 16. According to court documents, the premises of the monument contain the graves of musical maestro Tansen and Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus, both from the 16th century. The court documents said Tansen was remembered for his classical Dhrupad compositions. 'Dhrupad, an epic form of music, is considered to be invented by Raja Man Singh Tomar (ruler of Gwalior), in medieval times,' the court said, while reasoning that the monument where he is laid to rest deserves preservation and protection. The court was dealing with an appeal by one Syed Sabla Hasan, who claimed that he is the Sajjada Nashin (spiritual caretaker) and the legal heir of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus. It was argued on his behalf that various religious and cultural practices had been performed at the dargah premises for over 400 years and that their discontinuation by the Archaeological Survey of India, following the declaration of the site as a protected monument, was arbitrary and illegal. The court stressed that 'it is the duty of the ASI and the district administration to protect this monument of national importance with utmost care and strictness' so that the monument carrying history and culture can be preserved.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
NGT takes suo motu cognisance of poor condition of ancient water tank in Hyderabad's Golconda Fort
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the "poor" and deplorable condition of Katora Houz, a historic water tank located inside Hyderabad's Golconda Fort. A bench headed by judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi registered an original application suo motu (on its own) following a news item titled "Neglected Katora Houz in Hyderabad's Golconda Fort Cries for attention". Referring to the news article, the Bench, also comprising expert member A Senthil Vel, noted that the tank, which was once an important source of water, is now full of garbage and has no water left. The news item also pointed out that the area surrounding Katora Houz is facing increasing encroachments, further contributing to the tank's deterioration. "(A)lthough the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) conducted a 10-day cleanup operation in 2025 to remove water hyacinth and debris, the pool has since reverted to being a dumping ground," noted the NGT in its order passed on June 5. The green body said the matter highlighted in the news item attracted the provisions of The Environment Protection Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Saying that the power of the NGT to take up the matter suo motu has been recognised by the Supreme Court, the Justice Tyagi-led Bench impleaded the Telangana State Pollution Control Board, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the GHMC, and Hyderabad's District Magistrate as respondent parties to the matter. "Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit," ordered the green tribunal, transferring the matter for further hearing on August 6 before the Southern Zone Bench. It said that since the place of accrual of the cause of action lies within the jurisdiction of Chennai's Southern Zone Bench, the case should be further heard there. "Replies/ responses may be filed by the respondents (authorities) before the Southern Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Chennai at least one week before the date of hearing fixed," the NGT ordered.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Heritage pushback for Old Goa police station project
Panaji: Activists have flagged govt's plan to reconstruct Old Goa's police station as a ground-plus-two structure in the buffer zone of the world heritage site. They have stated that construction of the project will impact the sanctity and ambience of the historic place. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A site with a small area cannot accommodate a police station to cater to two constituencies, they've said while suggesting that govt consider an alternative place for the police station in order to safeguard the Unesco designated site. 'Renovation of the police station is okay, but construction as planned will add to traffic congestion at the spot,' Jacquelin Fernandes of the Save Old Goa Action Committee told reporters. The committee has petitioned the chief minister to reconsider the plan in the buffer zone, stating that they have, in the past, submitted memoranda opposing projects detrimental to the world heritage site. One of them was a petition signed by more than 34,000 persons that pressed for proper planning at Old Goa. Another local activist, Glean Cabral has stated that the construction would fall within 300m of the regulated zone of the Bom Jesus basilica. The monument is governed under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, as amended in 2010. Pursuing the project would be in breach of the Act and rules. Under Section 20D(2) of the Act, 'heritage bylaws' must regulate all construction. But to date, no bylaws have been finalised for any monument in Old Goa, despite the Act and rules coming into force from 2010 and 2011 respectively. Further, the basilica has been facing several problems due to dampness caused by waterlogging. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The project, with its plans for excavation, may irreversibly impact the local drainage flow, the activist said in his plea to govt. He further cautioned about the height of the proposed structure in this area, stating that approval to such a tall building would have an abrupt impact on the area's architectural character, and would also set a dangerous precedent in the heritage zone, opening the doors for other similar scale private projects in future.
