The Andhra Pradesh High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of a report published in The Hindu on the construction activity in the protected area around Charminar, and issued notices to various government departments on the issue.
The PIL Bench comprising acting Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Vilas Afzulpurkar treated as writ petition the news items published in English dailies, especially The Hindu, on the state of affairs of Charminar and the construction activity around it in violation of rules and regulations.
The Bench issued notices to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries of Home, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Archaeology and Museums, Director General of Police, City Police Commissioner, Hyderabad district Collector, GHMC Commissioner, Member Secretary of AP Pollution Control Board and Station House Officer of Charminar police station. The case was adjourned to April 1 (Monday).
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Controversy arose after the city police began constructing a compound wall at the police station situated in the vicinity of the historic monument. Any construction activity in the vicinity of a declared monument is prohibited by the ASI.