NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday sharply criticised the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for failing to keep the Lodhi-era monument “Gumti of Shaikh Ali” in Defence Colony clean, remarking, “You will clean it in two hours if a dignitary is coming.”A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and S V N Bhatti directed the MCD commissioner to fix responsibility on officers and submit an action plan to address the lapses flagged by the court commissioner.”If a dignitary is coming, you will clean it in two hours and keep the area spick and span. Is this the respect you show to our orders?” the bench remarked on September4, questioning the municipal body’s repeated inaction despite earlier directions.“It is very difficult to restrain ourselves but is this the way you behave? Is there any ego issue that you say the archaeology department will do?” the bench added.The court examined a report by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who visited the site as court commissioner and flagged non-compliance with previous orders.Finding a communication gap between the court and MCD, the bench summoned the MCD commissioner to appear the same day. “We find that there is too much of a communication gap between the court and the MCD. We would thus like the commissioner of the MCD to be personally present in the court at 3 pm so that whatever order the Court passes is in his presence so that it is taken in the right spirit,” the bench said.The judges also expressed frustration over repeated delays. “We have been constrained to pass this order as we have been giving sufficient leverage and latitude to the MCD to come clean by showing its bonafide but we find that our hopes have been dashed by the conduct and the stand taken by the MCD,” the court observed.When the commissioner appeared, he admitted there had been a communication gap regarding the cemented portion and assured the court it would be removed.The top court has now directed the MCD commissioner to hold officers accountable and submit an action plan to fix the lapses. It also ordered that a senior officer be deputed to monitor the monument daily, with details shared with the court commissioner.Posting the matter for September 18, the bench also asked the MCD to file a report identifying officials responsible for disobeying orders and the action taken against them.The case stems from a plea filed by Defence Colony resident Rajeev Suri, who sought to have the Gumti declared a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The Delhi High Court had dismissed his plea in 2019, following which he approached the Supreme Court.The apex court has since been issuing directions to ensure removal of encroachments, illegal occupation, and beautification of the heritage site.
