Delhi HC Seeks Report From ASI Regarding Jantar Mantar Instrument Functionality

The Delhi High Court asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to file a report on the condition of the functionality of instruments at the Jantar Mantar.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora of Delhi High Court was hearing a contempt petition filed by Ravindra Nath Sharma against the authorities for alleged non-compliance of the court’s September 2010 order.

In 2010, a division bench of the high court had passed an order recording an undertaking given on behalf of the ASI that Jantar Mantar shall be made functional and will be restored to its original glory.

The court also instructed the Central government and the state government to give the ASI the necessary support so that they could work to restore Jantar Mantar’s former splendour.

The bench added that because Jantar Mantar has been designated as a national monument, it must be safeguarded by all parties involved.

Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate M.C. Dhingra and Piyush Kant Roy submitted that the central issue in the present proceedings is that the instruments at the Jantar Mantar monument are not in a functional position. They also claimed that despite 12 years having passed, nothing has changed.

After hearing the case, the high court issued a judgment on January 20 directing the ASI to submit the status report within four weeks and outlining its position on the current status of the instruments’ functionality at the monument.

The petitioner was also instructed by the court to submit a response to ASI’s affidavit following its submission. It listed the matter for further hearing on April 24.