New Delhi, Nov 12: Allaying apprehensions of damage to the 17th century Mughal seat of power - Red Fort - by the ongoing renovation work, Archaeological Survey of India has informed the Supreme Court that the restoration work was "in strict compliance with highest internationally-accepted standards". The same was stated in an affidavit by the ASI before the court which is hearing a PIL filed by Rajeev Sethi and others pointing out numerable flaws in the restoration work saying, it was changing the historical face of the ancient monument.
A bench comprising Chief Justice V N Khare and Justice S B Sinha today took strong exception to the manner in which a clerk of the advocate has sworn an affidavit filed by the petitioners responding to ASI's affidavit justifying the work.
After petitioners' counsel Kapil Sibal accepted this as a serious mistake, the bench directed the petitioner to withdraw the affidavit and file one by a responsible person while posting the matter for further hearing to Friday.
Solicitor General Kiriti N Raval submitted that the work, going on for over a year, was nearing completion and wondered as to where the petitioners were for all this while before approaching the court. Bureau Report