Allahabad High Court Issues Notices Over Neglect of Heritage Sites Across Uttar Pradesh
By Rajesh Pandey
Taking serious note of the deteriorating condition of several historically significant monuments and heritage structures across Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court has issued notices to multiple central and state authorities, seeking their response on the alleged failure to preserve the state’s rich cultural legacy.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Akash Vashishtha, a lawyer and heritage conservation advocate, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra directed the Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), National Monuments Authority (NMA), Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the UP State Archaeology Department to file their responses within eight weeks.
The order was passed on March 23.
The petition highlighted the alarming neglect and dilapidated condition of numerous heritage sites located in prominent cities such as Jhansi, Vrindavan, Agra, Lucknow, and Hastinapur.
It is alleged that many invaluable archaeological structures are gradually deteriorating and turning into ruins due to the failure of the concerned authorities to undertake timely preservation and conservation measures.
According to the petitioner, a significant number of historically important monuments across the state remain unprotected.
Citing official data, the plea stated that nearly 3,500 archaeological sites and ancient structures exist in Uttar Pradesh, yet only 212 are currently protected by the UP State Archaeology Department.
The petition further referred to figures compiled by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), which indicate that as many as 5,416 heritage and historic buildings exist in the state.
Out of these, only 421 are under any form of official protection — 212 by the state archaeology department, 154 by the ASI’s Agra circle, and 55 by the ASI’s Lucknow circle — leaving nearly 4,995 monuments vulnerable to decay and eventual disappearance.
Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Sanjay Upadhyay, assisted by advocates Pawan Kumar Tiwari, Eisha Krishn, and Mansi Bachani, argued that the concerned authorities are legally obligated to protect these structures under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments laws.
The plea also pointed out that several monuments falling under the jurisdiction of the ASI’s Agra circle are yet to have the mandatory Heritage Bye-laws in place, as required under the statutory framework governing the protection of heritage sites.
The petition emphasised that even monuments that are currently abandoned, neglected, or encroached upon remain entitled to protection under the law.
It argued that encroachments around protected monuments must be removed, and appropriate conservation measures should be implemented to preserve these structures for future generations.
In addition to officially recognised monuments, the plea also highlighted the precarious condition of numerous historically significant temples, havelis, ghats, sarais and other structures that are over a century old but remain outside the formal protection framework.
It is alleged that the state government has failed in its statutory duty to properly identify, document and preserve such heritage assets as mandated under Sections 3 and 20 of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904, as incorporated in Schedule I of the Uttar Pradesh Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Preservation Act, 1956.
The PIL urges the authorities to take urgent steps to safeguard Uttar Pradesh’s invaluable cultural and historical heritage, warning that continued inaction could result in irreversible loss of structures that form an integral part of the state’s identity and history.
