The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a public interest writ petition seeking directions for protection and maintenance of over 400 articles, including clothes and manuscripts, of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar presently lying in a museum at Nagpur in Maharashtra.
Petitioner Mithilesh Kumar Pandey said the Shantivan Museum in Nagpur had written to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) several times seeking its help in preservation of Dr. Ambedkar's belongings, but the ASI was yet to take any concrete action in this regard.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw said it would pass an appropriate order on who has to perform the task of preserving the articles.
The petition pointed out that the objects lying in the museum were in different stages of spoilage and destruction because of non-availability of funds to take care of them.
“If not protected immediately, these articles may be lost forever for posterity,” it said.
The Union Government’s counsel, who also represented the ASI, said the Maharashtra Government could be asked to provide financial assistance to the museum, while the Centre could extend technical assistance, if needed.
