Smt. Uma Devi vs Union Of India (Uoi) And Ors. ...
2003 Latest Caselaw 849 Del

JUDGMENT

Vikramajit Sen, J.

1. Rule.

2. With the consent of the learned counsel for the parties, the Petitions are taken up for final hearing.

3. All these Petitions shall be disposed of by this common Order.

4. Mr. Sanjay Jain, learned counsel appearing for the Respondent states that although in the relevant Notification, the owner of the Red Fort is the Government of India through the Ministry of defense, since the ASI fulfillls the roll of a custodian of all ancient monuments which have been placed in the category of protected monuments, the application for the impleadment of the ASI may be accepted, and the impugned Order directing otherwise be set aside to this extent.

5. Learned counsel for the Petitioners states that an amended Memo of Parties shall be filed in the First Appellate Court on the next date of hearing itself i.e. 14.8.2003. Counsel for the ASI states that they will join the proceedings and make whatever submissions they are advised to make. The apprehension, however, is that the proceedings may be protracted under one guise or the other.

In these circumstances, the Petitions are allowed to the extent indicated above. However, the First Appellate Court is requested to dispose of the Appeal with expedition and latest by 12th September, 2003.

Copy of the Order be given dusty to counsel for the parties under the signatures of Court Master.