New Delhi: The Supreme Court criticized the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for failing to maintain cleanliness at the Lodhi-era monument Gumti of Shaikh Ali in Defence Colony. The bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and S V N Bhatti observed that the authorities act swiftly only when dignitaries visit, but ignore court orders.
The court directed the MCD commissioner to hold officers accountable and present an action plan to address the lapses noted by court commissioner Gopal Sankaranarayanan. It asked the MCD to assign a senior officer to monitor the site daily and share details with the court-appointed commissioner.
After examining Sankaranarayanan’s inspection report, the bench summoned the MCD commissioner, citing repeated non-compliance of its orders. The judges remarked that the corporation had been given enough time to show good faith but failed to do so. The commissioner admitted a communication gap regarding the cemented structures on site and assured the court that they would be removed.
The case relates to encroachments and misuse of the park area inside the Gumti complex. Earlier, the Supreme Court barred the construction of badminton or basketball courts there. It also instructed the Delhi government to issue a fresh notification declaring the Gumti a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
The monument had been under dispute after the Defence Colony resident welfare association occupied it for decades. The court directed the association to vacate the premises and pay Rs 40 lakh in compensation. The matter will be heard again on September 18.
