SC moots opening Fatehpur Sikri gate

The Supreme Court on Wednesday mooted the idea of reopening Hathi Pol of Fatehpur Sikri to ease congestion at the other entrance, the Buland Darwaza.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday mooted the idea of reopening Hathi Pol of Fatehpur Sikri to ease congestion at the other entrance, the Buland Darwaza.

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Hathi Pol (elephant gate) has been shut for more than 100 years.

Seeking the Archaeological Survey of India’s response on its advice, a bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari gave four weeks to ASI counsel A.D.N. Rao to place the department’s affidavit.

The bench was hearing a public interest litigation on restoration of the monument built by Akbar.

The direction came after senior advocate Altaf Ahmed, assisting the court in the matter, said it was time to reopen the gate as Buland Darwaza was congested. "It becomes a problem for tourists to enter the monument," he told the court.

When Akbar resided at the palace, spread over 12 acres, Hathi Pol was meant to be used by the king only.

MLA case transferred

The Supreme Court has transferred a murder case against a BSP MLA from Uttar Pradesh to Madhya Pradesh after observing that the accused was in a position to influence witnesses.

The accused, Brajesh Misra, MLA from Pratapgarh, was accused in the murder of Raghvendra Pratap Singh, special public prosecutor in a trial court in which seven criminal cases were registered against Misra.