New panel for Delhi’s Jantar Mantar revamp: ASI

Earlier this year, the court directed ASI to file a report regarding the existing status of the functionality of the instruments at Jantar Mantar

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has informed the Delhi high court that an expert committee has been formed for the conservation, preservation, restoration and ensuring the proper functioning of the Jantar Mantar observatory.

ASI had given an undertaking that Jantar Mantar will be made functional and restored to its original glory. (HT Archive)

On April 24, justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said that the court “reasonably” expects the committee to hold its meeting at the earliest, and sought a status report indicating the measures taken by it.

The court’s order came on a contempt petition seeking action against authorities for the non-compliance of a September 2010 high court order, after which ASI had given an undertaking that Jantar Mantar will be made functional and restored to its original glory.

Earlier this year, the court directed ASI to file a report regarding the existing status of the functionality of the instruments at Jantar Mantar.

In an affidavit filed in the matter, the heritage body sought eight weeks to set up a meeting of the new committee and to furnish the recommendations for conservation, preservation, restoration of the monument.

However, the petitioner in the contempt case said the affidavit was “deliberately vague” and there was “inaction” on the part of the authorities.