Total callousness: SC raps ASI, civic body over poor upkeep of Delhi tombs

The Supreme Court rebuked the MCD and ASI over the poor state of Delhi's heritage monuments. The court flagged alleged suppression of facts and sought personal explanations from top officials.The Supreme Court was told about media reports on the poor condition and extensive encroachment at Lodhi-era tombs in south Delhi's Zamrudpur area. (File photo)The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Archaeological Survey of India over the condition of heritage monuments in the national capital, saying there was "total callousness" and suppression of facts. The court was hearing a plea on the preservation and upkeep of Delhi's heritage structures and sites.A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N Kotiswar Singh directed the additional commissioner of the MCD and the director general of the ASI to appear before it and listed the matter for further hearing on October 7. The strong observations came after the court was told about media reports on the poor condition and extensive encroachment at Lodhi-era tombs in south Delhi's Zamrudpur area.The reports were cited in an application filed by Delhi resident Rajeev Suri, through whose petition the court has been monitoring the preservation of heritage structures and sites in the capital.The bench said, "We are left with no option but to direct the personal presence of the additional commissioner of MCD and director general, ASI, to show cause by way of affidavit why this court should not take serious note of such conduct and pass appropriate orders." The court was informed that in a status report filed on April 10, the MCD had said a survey of five tombs in Zamrudpur found one structure to be in a satisfactory state, while encroachment and littering had been noticed around three others.The court-appointed commissioners, led by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan and comprising advocates Nipun Saxena and Vishal Sinha, told the bench that there were five Grade-I heritage buildings in Zamrudpur under the MCD, but one of them could not be traced. The bench said, "There is total callousness and suppression of facts by the MCD, as it is revealed how MCD took a categorical stand that such structure(s) was free of encroachment."The court has now asked the top officials of the MCD and ASI to explain their conduct, while it continues to hear the matter on the preservation of Delhi's heritage sites.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 25, 2026 15:05 IST