No new construction, renovation works in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, says Supreme Court

Supreme Court halts construction at Mehrauli Archaeological Park, protecting centuries-old religious structures from demolition.

The Supreme Court on Friday (February 28, 2025) stayed any new construction or renovation at the centuries-old religious structures inside the Mehrauli Archaeological Park in the capital including the 13th Century Ashiq Allah Dargah and Chillagah of Baba Farid, the revered Sufi saint.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing a plea filed by one Zameer Ahmed Jumlana seeking protection of the religious structures inside the archaeological park from demolition.

Senior advocate Nidhesh Gupta referred to the Archeological Survey of India's (ASI) status report and said a historical monument found there was built around 700 years ago.

The CJI said “people keep encroaching and putting up shops to earn money” while asking the ASI to prepare a site plan to ensure no further encroachment.

Additional solicitor general K M Nataraj said, “Let us find out which are built newly and which are old." A lawyer said these monuments were not declared protected ones and, therefore, there was no problem if they were renovated.

The bench said for the renovation, permission under the existing laws would be needed.

“The ASI has submitted an interim status report. The original structure as it existed has to be ascertained and verified. List on April 28. The ASI will have to submit further status reports and the parties can file their objections/submissions. There shall not be any construction at the existing site,” it said.