The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is set to reclaim Sheikh Ali Ki Gumti, a 500-year-old Lodi-era monument located near Defence Colony Market in New Delhi, following a Supreme Court directive. The Grade I notified heritage site, which had been under unauthorized use by the local Resident Welfare Association (RWA) as an office, will now be restored and preserved.
A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah ordered the RWA to vacate the premises and hand over possession to the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under MoHUA. A court-appointed commissioner will supervise the transfer. The ruling resolves a long-standing legal dispute initiated by residents, led by lawyer Rajeev Suri, advocating for the conservation of the historic structure.
The tomb’s distinctive octagonal design and architectural elements have suffered damage due to poor maintenance and unauthorized modifications. A report by historian Swapna Liddle highlighted the monument’s historical importance as a central feature of Defence Colony’s layout, planned in the 1950s.
The court also instructed Delhi’s archaeology department to draft a comprehensive restoration plan to prevent further decay and restore the structure’s original grandeur. Sheikh Ali Ki Gumti’s reclamation underscores the importance of preserving Delhi’s rich architectural legacy amidst urban expansion.
