HC grants 17th century Agra hammam interim protection from demolition

The Archaeological Survey of India and Uttar Pradesh officials were ordered by the Allahabad High Court on Thursday to prevent private individuals from demolishing a 17th-century hammam or bathhouse in Agra, according to Bar and Bench.

Chandrapal Singh Rana filed a public interest litigation to protect the heritage structure from possible private demolition, and a bench of Justices Salil Rai and Samit Gopal issued an interim order.

Authorities were directed by the court to make sure the monument was not damaged during the hearing. The police commissioner was also instructed to send out officers to stop the monument from being demolished.

The petitioner said that although the building was of national significance, it had not been designated as an ancient monument, Scroll.in reported.

The petitioner's counsel informed the court that the hammam was constructed in 1620, according to records from the Archaeological Survey of India, which surveyed the building a year ago.

“Despite repetitive requests made to the respondent authorities and to the police no action is taken and there is likelihood that the entire structure would be demolished as the same is carried on by using bulldozers and machines, and the entire structure would be erased within a day or so,” The Indian Express quoted the petitioner as having said.

According to Bar and Bench, the council contended that the authorities are in charge of preventing the demolition of the 400-year-old hammam under the 1958 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. The next hearing on the case is scheduled for January 27.