The Supreme Court of India.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up several government agencies, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), over the poor upkeep of heritage monuments in the national capital and directed senior officials to appear before it on October 15.

“We are calling them for forming a team for coordination,” a bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh said, flagging a “lack of cohesion” among government bodies.

The court directed the secretary of the Union culture ministry, MCD commissioner, Archaeological Survey of India director-general, Delhi Development Authority vice-chairman and Delhi government archaeology secretary, among others, to appear before it.

The court was hearing a matter concerning the preservation and upkeep of heritage monuments in Delhi.

Referring to a report filed by senior advocate and court commissioner Gopal Sankaranarayanan, the bench said there was an “absolute lack of cohesion” between various departments and that officials had failed to appreciate the seriousness of the issue.

It said the time had come for drastic action but, as a “last indulgence”, refrained from passing stringent orders for now.

Sankaranarayanan drew the court’s attention to the condition of Lal Mahal, a 13th-century palace in Nizamuddin.

When MCD counsel said the corporation could not establish that the land fell under its jurisdiction, the court remarked: “You are totally casual... You are not even bothered about your areas.”

The court also considered alleged encroachments around Lodhi-era tombs at Zamrudpur in south Delhi and pulled up the ASI for failing to take adequate steps to protect the monuments.

“There is absolutely no seriousness on your part,” the bench told the ASI.

The matter will be taken up again on October 15.

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