Delhi HC directs ASI to detail status of instruments at Jantar Mantar
On September 22, 2010, the high court said that Jantar Mantar has its national importance and must be preserved by all concerns
New Delhi
The Delhi high court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to furnish within one month details on the existing status of functionality of the astronomical instruments at the historical and heritage space observatory, Jantar Mantar. This came after a contempt plea was filed alleging inaction despite a court order in this regard in September 2010.
“The respondent, ASI, is directed to file the status report within a period of four weeks and specifically set out in the report, the stand of the respondent with respect to the existing status on the functionally of the instruments at the monument,” the HC said in its order on January 20.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora granted two weeks to the petitioner, advocate Ravindra Nath Sharma, to file his response to the status report. The matter was posted for hearing on April 24.
The instruments at the structure in question in the petition are Samrat yantra (hour sundial), Jaya Prakasa yantra (used for observing the position of the sun, ascendants and other heavenly bodies), Rama yantra (used to observe the position of any celestial object by aligning an object in the sky with both the top of the central pillar), Misra yantra, Sasthamsa and Horizontal sundial, or Agra.
“…not a single person in the Archaeological Survey has knowledge of working of the instruments at Jantar Mantar. They did masonry work by deploying PWD masons without proper instructions as to how to restore instruments back into their working condition. They could not impart instructions because of their own lack of knowledge. Result was more damage to the instruments instead of their restoration,” the petition read first filed in the Supreme Court in 2007 read.
ASI officials on Sunday said that the heritage body will comply with the court’s directions.
In January 2007, the petitioner through advocate MC Dhingra had first moved the Supreme Court, stating that reparation of the instruments was last conducted in 1910-11 due to which markings on the structures have almost faded, rendering the monument non- functional.
After a few hearings, the apex court had sent the matter to the Delhi high court,
On September 22, 2010, the high court recorded the undertaking of ASI and its functionaries that it will carry out restoration work at the Jantar Mantar. While disposing the plea, the HC said that Jantar Mantar has its national importance and must be preserved by all concerns.
“The central government as well as the state government shall extend all necessary support to the Archaeological Survey of India so that they can work to bring back the lost glory. When we say extend the benefit, it also includes the law and order situation, if any,” the HC said in its order dated September 22, 2010, while granting liberty to the petitioner to give suggestions to ASI in this regard.
However, since the directions were allegedly not complied with, the petitioner moved a contempt petition in 2011 seeking action against the authorities.
On its part, ASI has filed regular status reports on the conservation work carried out by them, including removal of decaying and damaged concrete and its replacement.]
The petition had also added that the petitioner’s brother, Dr Virendra Nath Sharma and a visiting scientist from the USA, presently an Emeritus to University of Visconson, had also offered to mend the instruments and had written to the highest functionaries including the Prime Minister and the President, however, to no avail.
Raja Jai Singh II of Jaipur built the Jantar Mantar in 1710 in Delhi. This is an observatory consisting of mason-built astronomical instruments to chart the course of the heavens.
Jai Singh (1699-1743), who was a scholarly king with a keen interest in astronomy and astrology, had other observatories built too – in Ujjain, Jaipur, Mathura (which no longer survives) and Varanasi. The first among these was ‘Jantar Mantar’ in Delhi. The yantras (instruments, which has been distorted to Jantar) are built of brick rubble and plastered with lime.
The yantras have evocative names like, samrat yantra, jai prakash, ram yantra and niyati chakra; each of which are used to for various astronomical calculations.
Raja Jai Singh II of Jaipur built the Jantar Mantar in 1710 in Delhi. The observatory consists of mason-built astronomical instruments to chart the course of the heavens.
Jai Singh (1699-1743), who was a scholarly king with a keen interest in astronomy and astrology, had other observatories built too – in Ujjain, Jaipur, Mathura (which no longer survives) and Varanasi. The first among these was ‘Jantar Mantar’ in Delhi. The yantras (instruments, which has been distorted to Jantar) are built of brick rubble and plastered with lime.