Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Rebukes MCD, ASI Over Delhi Heritage Neglect
The Supreme Court was told that some old monuments in Delhi are in poor condition.
The monuments are in an area called Zamrudpur.
Reports said that people had encroached on some sites and that there was litter around them.
The court said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Archaeological Survey of India had not dealt with the issue properly.
It also said that some facts may have been left out of an official report.
Commissioners appointed by the court said there were five important heritage buildings, but one could not be found.
The court ordered senior officials from both agencies to appear before it.
They must explain what happened.
The case will be heard again on October 7.
The Supreme Court criticized the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Archaeological Survey of India over the condition of Delhi’s heritage monuments.
The court alleged “total callousness” and suppression of facts concerning heritage structures in the capital.
The hearing focused on five Lodhi-era tombs in south Delhi’s Zamrudpur area, where encroachment and littering were reported.
Court-appointed commissioners said five Grade-I heritage buildings were under the MCD, but one could not be traced.
The bench ordered senior MCD and ASI officials to appear and explain their conduct, with the next hearing set for October 7.
- Who
- The Supreme Court bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N Kotiswar Singh; the Municipal Corporation of Delhi; the Archaeological Survey of India; and court-appointed commissioners.
- What
- The court criticized the agencies over the alleged neglect and inaccurate reporting concerning Delhi’s heritage monuments, and ordered senior officials to appear before it.
- When
- Monday, August 25; the next hearing is scheduled for October 7.
- Where
- The case concerns heritage structures in Delhi, especially Lodhi-era tombs in south Delhi’s Zamrudpur area.
- Why
- The court was responding to media reports and information about poor upkeep, encroachment, littering, and discrepancies in the agencies’ reports.
Court-Appointed Review
Agency Reporting
Condition and encroachment
Court-Appointed Review
The Supreme Court and its commissioners said the condition of the monuments and the information provided by the MCD raised serious concerns, including alleged suppression of facts and one structure that could not be traced.
Agency Reporting
The MCD’s cited status report said one of five tombs was in satisfactory condition and recorded encroachment and littering around three others; the article does not provide a separate response from the ASI.
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N Kotiswar Singh
- Heritage site
- Five Lodhi-era tombs in Zamrudpur, south Delhi
- MCD report
- A report dated April 10 said one tomb was in satisfactory condition, while encroachment and littering were found around three others.
- Commissioners’ finding
- Five Grade-I heritage buildings were identified as being under the MCD, but one could not be traced.
- Court’s action
- The additional commissioner of the MCD and the director general of the ASI were ordered to appear and show cause by affidavit.
- Next hearing
- October 7