New Delhi, April 04: Delhi High Court has ordered to stop encroachment around Jama Masjid. A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi issued notices to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Delhi Police and the Municipal Corporation and directed them to file their replies by July 14.
Mohammad Kamran, chairman of the Civilian Welfare Charitable Trust, has said in the petition that unauthorized construction work and encroachment are being done around Jama Masjid. This encroachment is being done in a haphazard manner. Due to this there is a problem of air pollution in the area. It has been said in the petition that under the Ancient Humanities and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, there is a provision for the protection of three hundred meters of the surrounding areas apart from old and archaeological importance buildings.
Under this Act, no unauthorized construction can be done within a radius of 100 meters of buildings of archaeological importance. Despite this, unauthorized constructions are being done indiscriminately around Jama Masjid.
The Archaeological Survey of India, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, North Delhi Municipal Corporation and DCP of Central District did not take any action regarding these unauthorized constructions.
