The Kolhapur bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the superintending archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) Mumbai Circle to remain personally present on June 18, taking a serious view of the authorities' failure to submit a response in a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking conservation of the 12th-century Kopeshwar temple at Khidrapur.
Court Expresses Displeasure Over Non-Compliance
The court noted that despite its earlier direction to file a reply by May 21, no response was submitted by the ASI or other authorities. Expressing displeasure, the bench observed that the lack of compliance indicated a casual attitude towards the preservation of heritage structures.
Comprehensive Affidavit and Compliance Reports Ordered
The High Court has now directed the authorities to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing the current condition of the monument, proposed conservation measures, financial allocation, sanctioned budget, and a timeline for completion of the work. It also instructed the ASI to submit compliance reports every two months, indicating progress until the conservation work is complete.
PIL Filed by Activist Prashant Salunkhe
The PIL was filed by Kolhapur-based activist Prashant Salunkhe, seeking preservation of the historic temple located on the banks of the Krishna river along the Kolhapur-Sangli border. The temple, built in the 12th century, is a significant archaeological and religious site.
Yuvraj Narvankar, the lawyer representing the petitioner, stated: "The matter was listed before HC for compliance of the last order. I pointed out from the report of the Parliamentary committee about the present plight of archaeological sites in India and in Maharashtra. The ASI and other authorities were given time to file the replies, but none of them did, and the court took a serious view and directed the superintending archaeologist of ASI Mumbai to appear personally. The court also noted the fact that almost 94% of the sites identified by the Archaeological Survey have disappeared in recent times and expressed grave concern."
Concern Over Heritage Sites
The court's directions come amid mounting concern over the condition of heritage structures, with the bench flagging the alarming decline in protected archaeological sites and underscoring the need for urgent conservation measures. The court emphasized that the preservation of such monuments is crucial for historical and cultural continuity.
