Delhi: RWAs occupy graves, SC says – How dare you do this?

Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure in the case of illegal occupation of Delhi Defense Colony Tomb (Shaikh Ali ki Gumti) by RWA (Resident Welfare Association). The Supreme Court condemned RWA and said, how dare you, how can you do this. In this case, the court ordered a CBI probe in August. The CBI submitted its report to the court and after seeing the report, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah heard the case.

The Supreme Court said, how dare you (RWA) enter this tomb? RWA lawyers say we have been there for decades. Judge Dulia said, what is the logic of this? Justice Amanullah said this could not be granted. To this, the lawyer said if we were not there, anti-social elements would have come. Justice Dhulia said your remarks were like those of the British rulers.

In a petition filed in the Supreme Court, it said the Delhi civic body is trying to construct a shopping mall and multi-storey parking on the land surrounding the mausoleum. Thereafter, in April, the ASI and the government told the court that they had never allocated the grave to DCWA.

The court also put questions to ASI

The court also asked the ASI about the matter. How did ASI allow DCWA to occupy illegally, the court said? How could a 700-year-old ancient tomb be like this? The court also said it would appoint an expert to investigate the extent of damage to the tomb caused by illegal occupation by DCWA. The expert must submit the report within 6 weeks.

The court commended the CBI for the report submitted during the hearing. The court said the CBI was certainly not an expert on historical works but they had done a good job in providing information about the incidents of illegal encroachment that had occurred in the historic building.

Experts will be appointed

The court said only experts could judge the extent of damage to the tomb due to illegal encroachment and the extent to which it could be repaired. We will appoint an expert who will report on these matters within six weeks. The court also said that copies of the report as well as copies of the writ and affidavit should be given to the expert. In addition, copies of hard and soft registrations should also be provided.

What’s going on?

The court also commended the petitioner in the case, Rajeev Suri. The Gumti Tomb inside the defensive colony is a tomb built during the Lodi dynasty. This is a tomb that is many years old. The petitioner had earlier filed a petition in the Delhi High Court in this regard, but it was dismissed. The Supreme Court had issued notice of his appeal in July 2019.

In August, the court asked the CBI to submit a report on the case. The CBI has since submitted its report to the court.