The Supreme Court has ordered not to use the park located in the premises of Lodhikalin Memorial Sheikh Ali in the Defense Colony area of the capital for the construction of badminton or basketball court.
The apex court had earlier directed the Delhi government to issue a new notification to declare Sheikh Ali’s Gumti as a protected monument under the law.
A bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah has directed the authorities to stop any commercial activity including kiosks or shops in the area.
The apex court was also assured that the four -part park would be maintained and beautified, so that its natural beauty remains intact and it could be used for the benefit of the general public.
The bench said in the order of 31 July, “It is only necessary to give instructions that it should not be used for any other purpose and no activity such as badminton courts, basketball court construction should be done in view of the boundaries of the area.
The apex court directed the court commissioner to coordinate with the concerned departments including the horticulture department for maintenance and beautification of the park. The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for August 28.
The controversy over the memorial began when the apex court directed the ‘Defense Colony Resident Welfare Association’ to vacate its structure and pay Rs 40 lakh to the Archaeological Department of the Delhi Government as compensation for occupation of this historic site from the 1960s.
The Supreme Court was hearing the petition of Rajiv Suri, a resident of Defense Colony, requesting Gumti to be declared a protected monument under the ancient monument and archaeological site and relics Act, 1958.