Supreme Court criticizes Delhi authorities for lax heritage site protection

The Supreme Court of India has taken strong exception to what it termed a 'lackadaisical approach' by Delhi's civic authorities and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in safeguarding the national capital's heritage monuments and sites.

The observations emerged during court proceedings on a petition filed by Delhi resident Rajeev Suri, who had raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of various heritage structures across the city and the inadequate pace of their preservation and restoration work.

The court's criticism underscores growing judicial concern over the management of Delhi's historical and cultural assets. The capital, home to numerous monuments spanning centuries of Indian history, has faced persistent challenges in heritage conservation due to resource constraints, bureaucratic delays, and coordination gaps between multiple agencies.

The ASI, which operates under the Ministry of Culture and holds primary responsibility for protecting centrally protected monuments, and the Delhi Municipal Corporation, which oversees civic infrastructure including heritage sites, have faced previous instances of judicial scrutiny regarding preservation standards.

The Supreme Court's intervention is expected to prompt both agencies to expedite their heritage conservation programmes and implement more rigorous maintenance protocols across Delhi's protected monuments and historical sites.