*Says authorities breached timeline
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 6: A Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has issued slew of directives in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Chatter Singh seeking restoration of the historic Mubarak Mandi Complex.
Pursuant to order dated 28.03.2023, a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Rajesh Sekri visited the Mubarak Mandi complex on 03.04.2023 and inspected ongoing projects in the presence of Ramesh Kumar (Divisional Commissioner), Avny Lavasa (Deputy Commissioner), Deepika Kumari Sharma (Executive Director, Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society) and Senior AAG S S Nanda.
“As already observed in the last order that as per the project timeline furnished by the respondents on 13.03.2018, the entire work was expected to be completed by 31.03.2023, however, what we witnessed on the spot was contrary to the timeline furnished by none other than the respondents themselves”, the DB said.
“The authorities have breached the timeline and the projects are far from being completed”, DB said, adding “scant labour was found engaged here and there on the spot. Therefore, the authorities present on the spot were impressed upon to increase the manpower to ensure the completion of the historical/protected monument with promptitude”.
During the visit of High Court Judges it was told to the Division Bench that out of 25 buildings, 5 are permanently lost and out of remaining 20 buildings/projects, presently the renovation of 06 projects including Ram Singh’s Queen Palace, Darbar Hall, Dogra Museum, Raja Ram Singh Palace, Raja Amar Singh Palace and Central Courtyard have been undertaken.
DB observed, “presently the concerned authorities have succeeded to illuminate the whole building of the Army Headquarter/Foreign Department and the Heritage Clock stands restored by JSCL in 2023. The authorities present on the spot assured us that 06 projects shall be completed by the end of this year”, adding “no doubt, the involvement of advanced technologies and skilled labour for such historical monument makes it difficult to keep a project on the scheduled track and coupled with this, are innate uncertainties and sophistication in the physical, financial and economic environment in which such projects are executed”.
“However, the breach of deadlines or timelines would escalate the project cost by many notches”, DB said and hoped that the authorities concerned this time would stick to the timeline.
Insofar as the remaining buildings/projects are concerned, DB have been apprised that DPR has been submitted to the Government of India and funds are awaited and projects will take 06 to 07 years for completion after the approval of the DPR and sanction of funds.
Vishal Sharma, DSGI present in the court assured that he will get the approval of the DPR as also release of the funds expedited. Accordingly, DB directed DSGI to file a detailed affidavit in this regard by or before the next date of hearing.
“Another aspect of the case is conservation of old court building located just outside the main complex near main Deodi enroute Chowk Chabutra, the building was used for housing the court record and the court record is still lying in the said building. As per the report, the courtyard is used as a parking by the locals”, the DB said, adding “the matter was taken up with the Registry and we have been told that the office of the Registrar General vide Communication No. 1382/infat dated 12.04.2018 requested the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu to provide some alternative space for storing the old record housed in the building as no space is available in this court or in the District Courts for shifting the records/items”.
The DB directed Divisional Commissioner, Jammu to file an affidavit in this regard so that building is vacated and possession thereof is handed over to the authorities. DB further ordered that till the record is shifted and the possession is handed over, the authorities including Inspector General of Police (IGP), Traffic Jammu should ensure that courtyard of the building is preserved and locals are not allowed to use it as a parking place to prevent any further damage to the monument.
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