The Delhi High Court on Friday (May 1) asked the petitioner, who has sought a direction to declare the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site at Ayodhya a national heritage, to file a representation before the Central government.

The bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar asked advocate petitioner Anu Mehta to make a representation before the Union Ministry of Culture in this regard and said that the government may consider the representation and take a decision within three months.

“Beneath the superstructure lies an ancient monument which dates back to centuries and holds a vital key to the history of the continent’s ancient civilization thus the ancient monument constitutes national heritage as per the provisions of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The monument/ site holds vital information and proofs regarding the past civilization, it points at the social, cultural and religious advancement in the region in that era. Hence preservation of the ancient monument is of cultural and historical importance for India,” the plea read.

Read the petition here.

—India Legal Bureau