New Delhi, May 30: The Delhi High Court today ordered status quo in respect of 38 shops in Meena Bazar inside the historic Red Fort ordered to be evicted by the estate officer. "Status quo as of 11.30 am today be maintained till further orders," Justice Vikramjit Sen said in his order. The 38 shopkeepers approached the high court following dismissal of their appeal by the ADJ against the estate officer's order. "It appears at the threshold that the parties under the ancient monuments act have acted in great haste, reminding me of the adage that justice hurries is justice buried," Justice Sen observed. By a notification on July 31 last, the area in question was declared a protected monument under Section 4 of the Ancient Monuments Act, 1956. Acting on the notification, the Archaeological Survey of India had issued notices to the petitioners on December 10 last. However, no further action was taken by the ASI. The eviction order was passed on proceedings initiated by MCD which was given control of the disputed areas in 1956. The court wanted to know whether MCD or ASI was the appropriate authority to take action in the matter. If the ASI was not such an authority, "the whole purpose of declaring a monument as a protected monument would be lost if some other authority would be permitted to deal with it. "Such other authority may not have the expertise which is expected of the ASI and there is a likelihood of the protected monument being lost for ever. Bureau Report