STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court Comprising Chief Justice N Kotishwar Singh and Justice MA Chowdhary while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in respect of Mubarak Mandi Royal Dogra Palace Jammu which is a historical and a heritage monument, observed that in terms of order dated 05.04.2023, needful has not been done. The petitioner in his litigation sought aforesaid monument to be restored and that the record available therein be digitized. According to order passed on April 5, 2023, Division Bench 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 said timeline furnished by none other than the respondents themselves. DB observed that the authorities have breached the timeline and the projects are far from being completed. DB found scant labour 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. According to the authorities present on the spot, the spread of COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the delay in execution of the work. During the visit of High Court Judges it was told to the Division Bench that out of 25 buildings, 05 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 that 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.
DB further observed that 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. 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 hope and expect that the authorities concerned, this time would stick to the timeline.
Insofar as the remaining buildings/projects are concerned, DB has been apprised that DPR has been submitted to the Government of India and funds are awaited and said 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 has assured that he will get the approval of the DPR as also release of the funds expedited. DB directed DSGI to file a detailed affidavit in this regard by or before the next date of hearing.
DB further observed that another aspect of the case is conservation of old Court building located just outside the main complex near main deodi enroute Chowk Chabutra, the said 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 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 said building as no space is available in this Court or in the District Courts for shifting the said records/items.
Upon this DB directed Divisional Commissioner, Jammu shall file an affidavit in this regard so that said 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 are directed to ensure that courtyard of the said building is preserved and localists are not allowed to use it as a parking place to prevent any further damage to the monument.