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PETITIONER: RAJEEV MANKOTIA

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: THE SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA & ORS.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       27/03/1997

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, G. B. PATTANAIK

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                 THE 27TH DAY OF MARCH, 1997 Present:               Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Ramawamy               Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.B. Pattanaik Mr. Sudarash Menon, Advocate for the Petitioner. Mr. V.R. Reddy,  Additional Solicitor  General, Mr. A. Subba Rao, Ms. Anil Katiyar, Mr. Y.P. Mahajan, Mr. N.K. Sharma and Mr. V.K. Verma, Advocates with him for the respondents.                          O R D E R      The following Order of the Court was delivered:                          O R D E R      Viceregal Lodge  at Shimla  is a  harbinger of Colonial past,  with   architecturally   grandeur   and   beauty   of Elizabethian Era and stands a mute witness to the transition of independence to the people of India of the sustained non- violent struggle  by  the  Father  of  the  Nation,  Mahatma Gandhiji.  Three   historical  meetings   between   Colonial administration and  the Indian leaders took place to discuss the issue of the Indian independence under the leadership of Mahatma  Gandhiji,   viz.,  (i)  in  June-July  1946  -  the historical Cabinet  Mission of  the Indian  leaders; (ii) in May-June 1947;  and (iii)  the final  one wherein historical decision was  taken by  Louis Mountbatten  for transition of the power  conveying the  proposal  to  the  Indian  leaders through Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru; Nehru; that was followed by grant of  independence to the nation and the worst holocaust of communal  disturbance  due  to  partition  of  the  great ancient nation into India, i.e., Bharat, and Pakistan.      The journey  of Simla,  Summer Capital  of the  Supreme Government, started  in 1827  by the first Governor General, Earl of  Amherst and Viceregal Lodge, the official residence built by  the 17th  Viceroy, Earl  Dufferin, was occupied on July 23,  1888.  Though  Lord  Dufferin  and  Lady  Dufferin personally  supervised   its  taking   finished  shape,  its completion work  went on  till September  1988 which led the present shape  of the  building given  by Earl of Marquis of Landowne till  1889 - the only Viceroy who exclusively lived therein during  his entire tenure, i.e., from 10th December, 1888 to  26th June,  1894 in  Summer Camp.  The building was building is unique. The Viceroys/Governor Generals used this

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building as  Summer Comp  from  April  to  October  of  each calender year  and the  British ruled  the entire India from this building.  It was  also independence, it was renamed as ‘Rashtrapati Niwas’,  dawning with  smile  the  freedom  for Bharat and  the Presidents  of the  Bharat  Republic  stayed therein as Summer Resort until Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second  President had  it  handed  over  to  the  Indian Institute  of   Advanced  Studies  in  the  year  1964.  The President himself  had inaugurated  the Institute  when  Dr. Jakir Hussain,  then as  its Chairman,  and who later became the President  of India,  had chaired  the meeting.  It thus furnishes the  historical evidence of the Colonial holocaust unleashed on Indians and reflects upon the triumph of Indian nationalism; it  has laid seed-bed to the end of the British colonialism. Whether  such a  building  is  required  to  be maintained as historical monument of national importance, is the question before us.      When Dr.  Radhakrishnan, the  President of  India  felt that since  the President spent hardly 120 days in 10 years, i.e., 10  days a  year, it  was worthwhile to house the said Institute  therein,   instead  of   keeping  the  historical monument as idle building which would facilitate maintaining the grandeur  and beauty  of the building. However, the fact is that  with the passage of time, it has faded out and lost its real beauty. While the Institute was being so run, cruel decision was  taken by  the Cabinet of the Union of India to convert the building, a priceless treasury of our historical heritage, into  tourist hotel,  while purporting to maintain the main  part of the building as historical resort. Feeling the inner  voice of its ultimate destruction, the petitioner has knocked the door of this Court, and in our view rightly, to protect it as the historical heritage and to preserve our posterity.      Before considering  whether the  Viceregal Lodge should be declared  as historical heritage (monuments), let us have a look  at the  legal setting  in that  behalf. The  Ancient Monuments and  Archaeological Sites  and Remains  Act,  1958 (for short,  the ‘Ancient  Monuments Act’)  provides for the preservation  of   ancient  and   historical  monuments  and archaeological sites and remains of national importance. The Act was  enacted to  clarify the  legal  position  that  the Central Government  regulates exclusively  ancient monuments etc. of  national importance,  leaving the field open to the Stable legislatures  to enact  the law on the subject, i.e., ancient monumens  of State  imulus or place of interment, or any cave,  rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith, which is of historical, archaeologicla or artistic interest and which has been  in existence  for not less than one hundred years, and includes (emphasis supplied): (i)  the remains or an ancient monument; (ii) the site of an ancient monument; (iii) such  portion of land adjoining the site of an ancient      monument as may  be required for fencing or covering in      or otherwise preserving such monument ; and (iv) the means  of access  to, and concentient inspection of      an ancient  monument.      Section 3  of the  Act declares  that all  ancient  and historical monuments  and archaeological  sites and  remains which have  been declared  by  the  Ancient  and  Historical Monuments and  Archaeological Sites  and Remins (Declaration of National  Importance) Act  1951, or by Section 126 of the States  Rs-  organisation  Act,  1956,  to  be  of  national importance shall  be demed  to  be  ancient  and  historical monuments or  archaeological sites and remins declared to be of national  importance for the purpose of this Act. Section

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4 empowers  the Central  Government to  declare any  ancient monuments or  archaeological site and remins not included in Section 3  to be of national importance by giving two months notice  of   lts  so   declaring.  The   Ancient   Monuments Preservation Act,  1904 provides  for  the  preservation  of ancient monuments  and objects  of archaeological, historicl of artistic  interest. Section 2(a) of the Ancient Monuments Act. Section  2 (4)  defines ‘maintain’ and ‘maintenance’ to include the  fencing, covering  in, repairing, restoring and cleaning of  protected monument  and the  dolng of  any  act which may  be necessary  for the  purpose of  maintaining  a protected monument or of securing convenient access thereto. Section 3  deals with  ‘protected monuments’  and empowerers the Central  Government, by  a notification  in the official Gazette, to  declare an  ancient monument  to be a protected monument under  the said  Act. Section  11 enjoins  that the Commissioner shall  maintain every  monument in  respect  of which  the   Government  has  acquired  any  of  the  rights mentioned in  Section 4 or which the Government has acquired under Section 10 etc.      It would,  therefore, be  manifest that all ancient and historicl monuments  and all archaeological sites and remins or any  structure, erection  or monument  of any  tumulus or place of  interment  shall  be  deemed  to  be  ancient  and historical monument  of archaeological  sites and  remins of national importance and shall be so declared for the purpose of Ancient Monuments Act if they have existed for a century; and in  the case  of a  State monument,  of State importance covered by  the appropriate  State importance  covered bythe appropriate State  Act. The  point  of  reference  th  these provisions is  that an  ancient monument  is of  historical, cultural of  archaeological or  sculptural or  monolithic of artistic interest  existing for  a century  is  of  national importance of  State importance.  In other  words, either of them are  required and  shall  be  protected,  reserved  and mintained as  national monuments  or State monuments for the basis which  not only  gives pives  pride to  the people but also gives  us insighi  into past  glory of  our  structure, culture,    sculptural,     artistic    or    archeaological aignificance, artistic  skills and  the vision and wisdom of our ancestors,  which should be preserved and perpetuated so that out  succeeding generaitons  learn the  Skills  of  our ancestors and  traditions, cultural  and civilisation.  They would have  the advantage  to learm  our art,  architecture, ascethetic tastes  imbided by the authors of the past and to continue the  same tradition for the posterity. Preservation and protection of ancient monuments, is thus the duty of the Union of India and the State Government concerned in respect of ancient  monuments of  national inportance  or  those  of State  importance  respectively  to  protect,  preserve  and maintain them  by preserving  of  restoring  their  original conditions.      Coming to the birth, the improvements and the existence of the  Viceregal Lodge, we have the graphic account in that behalf by  Edward J.Back  in his  ‘Simla Past  and Present’. Before adverting  to it,  it is  of importance  to note that Simle is  a beautiful  Hill Resort on the small spurs of the lower Himalayas.  At the  beginning  of  the  last  century, though Simla did not find place in the world tourist map and remained a small village taken by the British from the Jhind Rana in  1855 and  then given to Maharaja of Patiala for the assistance  rendered  to  the  British  in  the  Nepal  War. Maharaja of  Patiala maintained  Simla as  a samatorium. The British, therafter,  had stationed  their Commander  of  the North-Eastern States at Simla. Captain Charles Pratt was the

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first foreigner  sent as  Superintendent of the Hill States. He was  stationed at  Simla. After  survey of  the area, the Britishers discovered  the beauty  and grandeur of Simla and the hills  and developed  it as a hill resort and ultimately summer resort  by shifting  the administration from Calcutta and later from Delhi. The first Government General, the Earl of Smherst, for the first time, visitied Simla and stayed in the  house   of  Captain  Kennedy,  namely,  Kennedy  House. Thereafter  successive   Governor  Generals   and   Viceroys continued  to  successive  Governor  Governor  generals  and Viceroys continued  th stay, apart from Viceregal Lodge, for some time,  in  various  houses  by  name  Bentinck  Castle, Auckland House,  Strawberry Hill,  Peterhof. Ultimately,  as stated earlier,  Earl of  Dufferin  had  the  building  plas approved and got constructed the Viceregal Lodge and entered for the  first time  into  the  House.  The  structural  and magnificent furmishing  done to  the Viceregel  Lodge  finds expression delienated  in Buck’s  "Simla Past  and Present". Lady Dufferin  mentioned in  her diary, seeing the furnished building on Sunday, 15th July, 1888 as under;      "I  went  to  the  new  house  this      afternoon, and  it did look lovely.      It  was   one   of   Simla’s   most      beautiful moments, between showers,      when clouds  and hills,  and  light      and shade,  all combine  to produce      the  most   glorious  effects.  One      conld  have   spent  hours  at  the      window of  my unfurnished  boudoir,      looking out  on the  plains in  the      distance,  with   a   great   river      flowing through  them  :  at    the      variously  shaped   hills  in   the      foreground, brillinatly coloured in      parts, and  softened down in others      by the  fleecy clouds floating over      them of  nestling  in  the  valleys      between them  or nestiling  in  the      valliys    between     them.    The      approaching sunset,  too, made  the      horizon  gorgeous   with  red   and      golden  and   pale-blue-tints.  The      result of  the whole was to make me      feel that  in is  a great pity that      we shall  have so  such magnificent      views."      On 23rd  July, 1888,  they returned to the building and mentioned as under:      "We are  sending things  up to  the      house and  hope to  sleep in  it on      Monday. We  really inhabit  the new      viceregal Lodge  today (23rd  July,      1888) so  I left  the old  directlu      after  breakfast,   just  returning      there for  an hour  at lunch  time,      and   busied   myself   whole   day      arranging my  room and  my  things,      and the  furniture in  the drawing-      room. Happily  the weather was very      tolerable, and our beds got up here      dry, D.  and the girls did not come      near the  place till  dinner  time,      when  everything   was  brilliantly      lighted up by the electric lighting      up and  putting out of the lamps is

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    so simpe  that it is quite pleasure      to go  round one’s  room touching a      button  here   and  there,  and  to      experiment with various amounsts of      light. Afrer dinner we went down to      look at  he  Kitchen,  which  is  a      splendid  apartment,   with   white      tiles six  feet high  all round the      walls, looking so clean and bright.      We sit in the smaller drawing-room,      which is  still a  little stiff and      company- like, but it will soon get      into   out   ways   and   be   more      comfortale."      On August  8, 1888, they had first entertainment in the new house and the book contains its account as under:      "We had  our first entertainment in      our new  house tonight.  It  looked      perfectly lovely, and one could see      that every one was quite astonished      at it  and at  the softness  of the      light. First  we had a large dinner      for sixty-six  people at  one  long      table.  The   electric   light   is      enough, but  as candelabra ornament      the table we had some on it. At one      end of  the room  there was a side-      board  covered   with  gold  plate,      etc., end  at the  other end double      doors were  open,  and  across  the      ball-roomb one  saw the  band which      played during  dinner. We  had  all      the  Council  and  ’Personages"  of      Simla, and the minister, Asman Jha,      from  Hyderabad,  who  brought  his      suite. After dinner people began to      arrive  for  the  dance.  When  not      dancing,   everyone    was   amused      roaming about  the new  rooms,  and      going up to the first floor, whence      they  could   look  down  upon  the      party."      "Vicregal  Lodge   possess,  as  it      rightly should,  one  of  the  most      commanding position  in  Simla.  It      lies to  the extreme  west  of  the      station, and  is one  of the  first      objects to  strike the  eye as  the      traveler  approaches   from  Kalka.      Described briefly  it consists of a      main block  of three  stories,  and      another called the Kitchen wing, of      five storeys,  but  the  latter  is      built on  the side  of a precipice,      and commences  three storeys  below      the ground  level of th emain block      an deast  wing; so that viewed from      the north-east the house has a very      lofty,     somewhat      forbidding      appearance, and might at a distance      be mistaken for a medieval castle.      The    style     of    architecture      throughout is  English  Renaissance      (English Renaissance (Elizabethan),      the masonry of the walling is light

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    blue  limestone,  and  the  wrought      stone work  is all of sand stone of      a very  fine  grain  and  beautiful      light  gray  tint.  This  stone  is      uniform in  texture, an dis capable      of  being   worked  to  very  short      arises; the  moulding are all true,      and where  carving has been carried      out it  is  bold  and  sharp.  Very      litle stone  carving has been used,      but what  there is  of it  relieves      the  plain   parts,  and   is  very      effective. The  walling  stone  was      quarred about  five miles  away and      was transported  to Simla on mules,      but much  of this  was found  to be      porous and  was replaced  with hard      stone from  kalka and sanjouli at a      cost  of   nearly  a   lakh  and  a      quarter. The  cut stone was brought      in for 50 miles from th efool of th      ehills near  kalka. Carrying on the      labour in  the winter  was a matter      of much  difficulty as  the  masons      refused   to    work   except   for      extremely   high    wages,    while      carpenterrs were  not obtainable at      any price.  A small tower surmounts      the house from which flies the flag      which denotes  the presence  of the      Viceroy in Simal. In this tower are      the  water   tanks  into  which  is      pumped   the    supply   from   the      municipal mains,  and the view from      its  summit   on  a  clear  day  is      magnificent.  To  the  northe,  and      north-east particularly, the ranges      of  perpetual  snows  are  seen  to      great advantage  over the  peaks of      the nearer  ranges,  while  on  the      west,  especially   in  the  rains,      there is  grand view of the plains,      wi;th the  sutlej winding  away  in      the distance.  The house,  grounds,      and approaches  are now  lighted by      electricity. There  are about 1,000      lamps, the  majority of  16 candle-      power, and  the engines  which used      to supply  the power  situated near      the main entrance gate and close to      the stable  range.  This  shed  has      since  been   dismantled   and   is      convereted into  a transformer room      on  the   ground  floor,  with  the      offices of  the  Superintendent  of      Viceregal  Lodge   on   the   first      floor.The  engines  were  sold  and      replaced by a taransformer. Inside,      the house  is entrance  hall,  with      its gallery  leading to  the  ball-      room, being  perhaps  the  feature.      This  gallery   is  fifty  feet  in      height, ninety  feet long, but only      eighteen  feet   broad,  which   is      really much too narrow.

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    The    woodwork,     however,    is      beautiful.   For    instance,   the      treads, newels,  and  handrails  of      the main staircase are of teak, the      blusters  are   solid  walnut,  the      carriages and concealed portions of      the framing  of the  stairs are  of      deodar, some  of the carving  being      very  bold   and  efective.   Heavy      velvet curtains  divide the  galler      from the  ball-room,  an  apartment      seventy feet  by thirty feet with a      side annexee  seventy feet  by  ten      feet on  the west,  and a vestibule      seventeen feet  by thirty  feet  on      the  east.   These  really   are  a      portion  of   the  room    as  they      communicate   with  it  by    large      openings twenty  feet wide. Another      velvet curtain   hangs ovet opening      to  the   the  state   drawing-room      ,sixty  feet   by  thirty  feet,  a      chrming room,  with the wall panels      hung  in   silk  tapestry  and  the      woodwork painted  white. The  upper      part of  th egallery  is hung  with      Japanese paper  in white  and  gold      heavily embosse.  Perhaps the state      dining-room  appeals  most  to  the      ordinary visiter.  This is panelled      all round  ten feet high with teak,      the upper two feet being in pierced      strap  work,   and  supporting  the      shields charged  with the  armorial      bearings of  the several Governors-      General and  viceroys of India, all      illuminated in  the proper heraldic      colours. These  now make a splendid      decoration. The  walls are  divided      by means  of  pilasters  supporting      the ceiling  beams, and their upper      portion is  hung with  crimson silk      and woolen tapestry, while there is      a good  deal of bold carving in the      room. On  the Occasion  of a  state      dinner the  scene is a particularly      brilliant one. The furnishing of th      ehouse was  originally done  partly      by Messrs. Maple & Co. who sent out      their assistants  for the  purpose;      many  of   the  simpler   articles,      however,  were   made   by   punjab      carpenters    whose     work    was      excellent."      Lord  Lansdowne,   during  his   term  of  office  made improvements and  the grounds  surrounding  the  house  were planted out  with trees  and shrubs.  Many improvement which were designed mainly for t h epurpose of garden parties were carried out  under the  supervision of  Mr. A.  Parsons, the English Authority  on  gardening  in  Simla.  The  Viceregal entertainments were conducted in large scale.      When Lord  Curzon took  over th  echarge in  1889, Lady Curzon look  interest in  renovating the  building. She  got hung damask,  sky-blue and  pale green  in the  two  drawing rooms, yellow  in the  ball room.  Most pleasant  part of th

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ehgouse was,  in their  view ,  its grounds  and Lord Curzon added to  them an  avenue of limes; the rose ‘pergola’ which was such  a typical  feature of many large Victorian gardens and parks,  was designed  by Lord  Curzon. Lady  Curzon felt that "a  look out  of the windows makes up for it all, and I can live  on views for five years "(as mentioned in "A  Hill Station Simla  in  British  India’s  by  pat  barr  and  Ray Desmond. In  this behalf, it is of interest to note that the British authors have not lost their gratitude to mention the native people,  their glamour  and simplicity.  One  of  the greatest Telugu  poets. Sri  Sri in  his ‘ Mahaprastayan’had said that  the beauty  of Taj Mhal cannot be measured by the Emperor Shahjahan’s  pointed of  view who got it constructed in memory  of his  beloved queen  Mumtaj mahal; but from its delicate  craftsmanship   and  carvings   of  the   workers, architects and  the masons  who built the mantion, the world renowned  national   heritage  of   our  nation.  Similarly, reflections can  be found from th emasons, the men and women who built  the Viceregala  Lodge under  the supervision  and guidance of  Mr. Henry  Irvin, the  Architect, and the Chief Superintendent fo  the work assisted by Mr. F.B. Harbert and L.M. Seth  clay as  Executive Engineer  and M/s  A.Scott  T. Macpheryn and T. English Assistant Engineers as mentioned by Mr. Edward  J. Buck  in his  Second Edition recorded from th ediary of lady Dufferin on July 16th 1887 as under:      "D. took Hermie and me all over the      house in  the afternoon. We climbed      up the  most terrible  places,  and      stood on single planks over yawning      chasms.  The  workpeople  are  very      amusing to  look at  especially the      young    ladies     in    neckless,      bracelets, earrings,  tight  cotton      trousers, turbans  with long  veils      hanging  down  their  backs,  nd  a      large earthen-were  basin of mortar      on their  heads.  They  walk  about      with the carriage of empresses, and      seem as  much at ease on the top of      the roof  as on  the grounmd-floor;      most picturesque  masons they area.      The house will really be beautiful,      and  the   views  all   round   are      magnificent.  I   saw  the   plains      distinctly from  my boudoir window,      and I  am glad  to have  that  open      view, as  I shall  not then feel so      buried in the hills."      Thus, the  great Indian masons, men and women had built the magnificent  ancient monument with their hear, sweat and labour to  be enjoyed  by the Viceroys/Governor Generals who conquered the  country because  of disunity among th eIndian rulers and  because some  rulers connived  with the  British forces. Disintegration  fo the  Society was  on  account  of regional and  religious differences,  caste  structures  and ,ostly personal  feuds and  rivalries among  the  Rajas  and Maharajas themselves.      As  stated   hereinbefore,  the  freedom  movement  was launched in  a non-violent manner, the Father of the Nation, Gandhiji  called  by  the  people  with  love  "Bapuji"  and sustained as people’s movements was carried on over years at the sacrifice  of life  of numberless patriot men and women. The Viceregal  Lodge witnessed  two  historical  conferences held by the Indian leaders with the Viceroy/Governor General and in  particular Lord  Mountbaten who  was instrumental in

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handing over  the  Bharat  to  us.  The  ancient  India  got dissected into  two parts, viz., Bharat and pakistan, due to two-nation theory  successfully campaigned  by Sri Jinnah on behalf of  the Muslims,  who later  regretted for the damage done by  him to  the great  nation.  The  emergence  of  two nations ultimately  resulted in  the halocaust  of  communal disturbances and  loss of  lives of innocent British Indians who included  both Hindus  and Muslims.  In this  behalf, in ’Freedom  at   Midnight’  by  Larry  Collins  and  Dominique lapierre it  is mentioned  in Chapter  VI titled "A Precious Little place,  Simla, May  1947" precluding  the the  events leading to  the division  of India.  It is mentioned therein that during may 1947, Lord Mountbetten had stationed himself in Simla  in this  very Viceregal  Lodge. The  authors  have narrated their research in the following words:      "Each year  in mid-April   when the      warm weather arrived, the Viceroy’s      departure for  Simla in  his  white      and gold  viceregal train  signaled      that the  mountain capital’s season      had begun."      It is  mentioned at  page 123  that "Much  of that  old Simla was  already  was  already  gone  by  the  time  Louis Mountbatten arrived  in early  may 1947. Now an Indian could even wald  down the  Mall-provided he  was nto  wearing  the national  dress   of  his  country."  Earlier,  Idians  were prohibited from  going there.  "Simla changed with an easily foreseen rapidity  after independence.  The Indians, because of its  connotations, abandoned  it as  their summer capital The only thing which remains of th eold Simla, ’M.S. Oberoi, owner fo  th ececil’s  Hotel and Chairman of Oberoi’s Hotels Ltd., lamenated  in 1973,‘is  the  climate’.  The  Viceregal Lodge also  was used  as a parat of the Legislative wing for th esummer  session fo parliament and it, therefore, has the laste of  transacting legislative  business with  the Indian legislators partly  composed with the British Administrators Lord Mountbatten  had finalised  the Plan in Simla to divide India   into three  countries, namely,  Bengal, composed  of East  and  West  Bengal,  Pakistan  and  India,  apart  from retention of  the respective  areas had  by; named rulers. a graphic account was given as to how Lord Mountbatten had his plan secretly   disclosed,  by  inviting  pandit  Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime Minister, who was a very close friend of Lord  Mountbatten and an important spokesman on behalf of the congress party, to Simla. Lord Mountbatten had shown his plan of  division of India. The violent reaction fo Panditji was noted as mentioned at page 126 as under:      "The  British  had  run  India  for      three    centuries     with     the      byword‘Divide   and   Rule’.   They      proposed to  leave it on a new one:      ’Fragment        and         Quit’.      Whitefaced,shaking with rage, Nehru      stalked into  the  bedroom  of  the      confident   krishna   Menon   who’d      accompanied him  to Simla,  with  a      furious gesture, he hurled the plan      on to his bed." "It’s all over!’s he shouted."      Because of  the reaction of Panditji to such a division of India, Mountbatten realised that he cannot succeed in his effort  to   hand  over   the  power   to  the   people   in fragmentation.Therefore, he  redrafted the  plan and  at the call of  th ethen  prime Minister,  Mr. Atlee,  he  went  to London, had  discussions and  ultimately succeeded to divide

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the country  as India,  i.e.,  Bharaata  and  pakistan;  and Independence  Act  was  enacted  by  British  Parliament  in conclusion. It would, thus, be seen that Viceregal lodge, as stated earlier,  is a  mute witness  to the  destruction  of Indians, their  subjugation as subject fo British empire who ruled the  country for  over three  centuries by ’divide and rule’ The  agony of the Indians and the glory of the British empire and  the Simla  as its  summer  seat  for  the  Asian British  empire  was  witnessed  by  this  Viceregal  lodge. Equally, it  is also  a witness  to heralding  of new era of independence though  the ancient  India was  fragmented into two nationsw,  namely, India,  i.e.,  Bharat  and  Pakistan. India,  thus   became  a   sovereign,   socialist,   secular democrataic republic under a written constitution. Democracy is its  basic feature;  Constitutionalism, rule  of law  and democratic  governance   as  basic  means  to  establish  an egalitarian social  order in  which every citizen of Bharata is entitled  to enjoy justice social, economic and political liberties, and  equality of  status and of opportunity, with dignity of  person and  fraternity among all the sections of the society as an integrated Bharat. Such being the historic evidence furnished  by a Viceregal Lodge, is it not the duty of the  Indians and  of the Government of Indian to preserve Viceregal Lodge as a monument of national importance for the posterity of  the historic  evidence so  that  every  Indian citizen while  visiting Shimla would have the glimpses of it to recall  the fully  of disunity, teaching us the lesson of being united  so as  not to  destroy ourselves once over and lose  democracy   and  liberties  on  account  of  disunity, dishaormony on  ground of  religion, region, caste, language and denial  of al  opportunities. The  facilities to our own weaker segments of the society’ of equality of opportunities and of  status to improve excellence in chosen facets of the respective lives.  Answer is  obviously ‘yes’.  If we forget the past and repeat the same mistake, we would stand to lose our nation’s unity and integrity; stand to lose our nation’s unity and  integrity;  stand  to  lose  the  opportunity  to integrate  into   the  world  our  great  democratic  Bharat Republic. Viceregal lodge teaches us these lessons and it is for all  of us,  individually and  collectively,  to  learn, awake, arise and work for integration, unity and fraternity, which are our fundamental duties.      In this  backdrop, when  the writ petition was filed by way of  public Interest  litigation, this  court issued rule nist on Novemberr 19,1990 to all the respondents. Initially, a stand  was taken  in the  counter-affidavit filed  by  the union of  India that  they had  decided to use a part of the area for  commercial  purpose  and  the  rest  of  the  main building to  maintain and restore the glory of the Viceregal Lodge. Thus  the decision to convert the historical building into a  tourist hotel  was sought  to be  justified  on  the ground that  the Ministry  of Tourism has encoraged a scheme of heritage resorts which essentially  means preservation of the  old   properties  and  their  use  in  such  a  limited commercial manner so as to generate enough sources to ensure that  the  properties  will  not  crumble.  As  regards  the construction of                 Five star Hotel in the area, it is stated thus:      "The premises  may not  necessarily      be converted into a five stat hotel      as commonly  known but  the concept      plan will  be more  of  a  heritage      resort,  which  would  enhance  and      project the  cultural  identity  of      the area instead of destroying it,"

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    This Court was not satisfied with the counter-affidavit filed on  behalf of  the Government  of India. Therefore, it gave directions  on November24,  1995  to  have  the  matter reconsidered by the Cabinet sub-affidavit was again filed on January 22,1996  stating  that  "In  August  1982,the  union Cabinet  took  a  decision  that  the  Indian  Institute  of Advanced Studies  which is  housed in  the Rashtrapati Nivas building  should  be  shifted  to  some  other  building  in Shimla". It was further stated that "At a subsequent cabinet committee meeting held on 8th May, 1990, it was decided that the entire  campus earlier  known as  viceregal Lodge may be transferred to  the Ministry  of Toruism for being developed as a  major tourist resort by the ITDC  with the stipulation that  the  main  building  will  not  be  used  for  tourist purposes. It  was  also  decided    that  the  Institute  of Advanced Studies  which  is  housed  in  te  campus  of  the Rashtrapathi Nivas  Estate may  be shifted to an alternative site offered  by the  Government of  Himachal Pradesh."  "IN February, 1992  the matter  was  further  discussed  by  the committee  of  secretaries  and  the  earlier  decision  was amplified to the effect that the main Viceregal Lodge with a part  of  the  appurtenant  land  should  be  preservad  and mantained as  a national museum and th esurrounding land may be handed  over the Ministry of Tourism for development of a tourist resort." Therefore,  it was stated that "it owuld be unnecessary for  the matter  to be taken to the Cabinet once awgaing for  a decision  about the  preseration of  the main building and  the appurtenant land as heritage oroperty". It was  also   stated  that   there  were  "no  plans  for  the development of any part of the Rashtrapati Nivas estate into a five-star  hotel complex. No plan for any such purpose has been discussed or finalised nor has any budgetary allocation been made  for the  said purpose  in the  Eighth  Five  year plan". The  last pare  itself is a manifest of the intention of the  Government that its usein future as a tourist resort had not  been ruled  out. As  a consequence,  by Order dated February 27,1996, this Court stated thus:      "the Chief Engineer of the CPWD, In      charge of  the maintenance  of Vice      Regal  Lodge  has  brought  to  the      Court echology  album of the entire      area. it was stated that around the      buildinig, as  at present, there is      no  proposal  for  construction  fo      tourism   hotels    as   originally      proposed, but  there is a direction      of the Division Bench of the Shimla      High Court directing the Secretary,      Human  Resources  Developments  and      Urban Development  should decide as      to   what    is   the   extent   of      appartenant   land    around    the      building  beyond   which  the  CPWD      intends to  construct quarters  and      office building  for the  employees      transferred and  stationed there or      which is part of the property lease      dout to  the Institute  of  Advance      Studies."      This Court  observed that since th eGovernment of India had admitted  in the counteraffidavit that the building part of the  appurtenant land  would  be  preserved  as  National Monuments by  the Archaeological  Department,  the  question that had  arisen was what would be the appurtenant land. The court was  informed that  around 65  acres was the land near

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the main  building at  th eovservatory  hill and 25 acres of the land was situated elsewhere at prospect hill. This Court indicated to  the learned senior counsel for the respondents that the  appurtenant land  which was  kept vacant,  as  was admitted in  their counter-affidavit,  should  be  25  acres surrounding the  entire building. The Court directed that if the said  land is  used for  any other  publci purpose, lide establishment of  tourist hotels  or office buildings, which was  originally   proposed  and   resolved  by  the  cabinet Resolution, the same should be beyond that area and that too without contravention  fo the  Forest Act and other relevant laws. The  counsel sought and was granted time for producing tentative  plan   proposed  by  them  without  touching  the appurtenant land.  When the  matter had  come  up  for  next hearing  on  April  3,1996  counsel  was  not  present  and, therefore, the  matter was adjourned indicating that in case of non-appearance, appropriate orders would be passed.      A Counter-affidavit  dated April  26,1996 was  filed on behalf of  the Government  of India  stating therein  that a meeting of  the Secretary,  Department of Urban Development, Secretary,  Ministry   of  Uraban  Affairs  and  Employment, Secretary,  Department   of  Education,  Ministry  of  Human Resources  Development,   Joint  Secretary,   Department  of Tourism, Ministry  of Civil  aviation and  Tourism and other officials concerned  with the  matter had met on 22nd March, 1996 and decided as under:      "a)  The   Appurtenant  land  arond      Rashtrapati    Niwas     (on    the      observatory Hill)  was agreed to be      24.27 acres.  This  was  determined      both from the engineering angle and      with  a   view  to  protecting  the      natural   surroundings    of    the      Rashtrapathi  Niwas.  It  was  also      agreed   that   the   building   of      Rashtrapti    Niwas     and     the      surrounding appurtenant  area  will      be earmarked  as a  "heritage area"      whereinno   construction   activity      should be permitted or undertaken.      b) Om  regard to  the area  outside      the heritage  area, a  master  plan      would be  prepared by  the Ministry      of  Urban  Affairs  and  Employment      (Department of  Urban Developemt  )      in consultation  with  Ministry  of      Human  Resources  Developmet  Civil      aviation and Tourism (Department of      Tourism), Ministry  of  Environment      and  Forest   and  concerned  local      agencies like  the shimal Municipal      corporation,  The   Town   planning      Department  and  the  state  Forest      Department, so  as to  ensure  that      the environment  and ecology of the      are ais  preserved and  no activity      be taken  which  may  endanger  the      environmental position.      c) In  regard to the remaining part      of  Rashtrapati  Nivas  Estate  (on      Prospect Hill)  the land  could  be      put to  such use  as the Government      may determine  from time  to  time,      subject to  the due compliance with      the applicable  law  including  the

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    Forest  Act,   Town  Planning  Act,      Local Municipal Law and others."      It was  further stated  therein that  the  as  per  the detailed plan  of the Rashrtapati Niwas Estate placed before this court, the designated boundary of the Rashtrapati Nivas Building with  the appurtenant land agreed upon as "heritage area" was  shown by  a broken line in brown colour. The area therein suggested  was 24.27  acres in place of 25 acres, to be preserved  within the  natural boundaries  formed by  the roads encircling  Rashtrapati Nivas.  On may 6, 1997 learned counsel for th epetitioner was directed to verify and make a report with  regard to  the plan  submitted and  whether any further   modification   was   required.   Counter-affidavit accompanied by  the reports  was  filed  on  behalf  of  the petitioner stating  that the  Viceregal Lodge consists of an area of  90 acres  which included  ancillary buildings  that constituted the  whole estate  of the  viceregal Lodge.  The said buildings  namely, Corzon  House, Del  Ville,  Bilaspur House, Bilaspur  Cottage and  Squires Halla  have  not  been included in  the plan  submitted by  the Government and they were not  included within  the heritage  area. It  was  also stated that  the viceregal  Lodge, as  suggested  by  Intact requires repairs for the upkeep of the said monument and the said  building  requires  to  be  notified  as  a  protected monument and  the memorabilia  awithin the  Lodge should  be notifies as  protected antiquities.  A report in support was also accordingly  filed. As  a large  part of  the  building requires repairs,  preservation  adn  restoration  to  their original form,  for effectuating  the grandeur and beauty of th  ebuilding,   direction  was   given  to  look  into  the objections raised  in the enclosed report and th ematter was adjournd.  After  compliance  thereof,  a  report  has  been submitted  demarcating   the   area   and   identifying   th econtiguous land  in th  eplan appended  to the  report  but notification in  that behalf had not been issued. Therefore, by proceedings  daated August  19,1996,  the  Government  of India  was  directed  to  notify  the  entire  area  of  the Viceregal Lodge  as  a  protected  ancient  monument.  After several adjounmants,  ultimately the notification came to be issued on  6th May,  1997 with the boundaries as directed in the orders and mandamus in that behalf stands complied with. Thus, the protection and preservation of Viceregal Lodge and the appurtenant land as historical heritage has become faite accompli by orders of this Court.      It is  needless to  mention that  as soon as the Indian Institute of  Advance studies vacates the building and hands it over  to the  Archaeological Department,  the  Government should provide  the necessary  budget for  effecting repairs and restoring  to  the  building  its  nataural  beauty  and grandeur. It  is also  necessary that its proper maintenance and preservation  is undertaken  as an  on-going process  to protect the  historical  heritage  and  needed  repairs  are effected from  time to  time. We  avail this  opportunity to direct the  Government of  India to  maintain  all  national monuments under the respective Acts referred to above and to ensure that  all of them are properly maintained so that the cultural and historical heritage of India and the beauty and grandeur  fo   the  monuments,  sculptures  secured  through breathless and  passionate labour workmenship, craftsmanship and the  skills of the Indian architects, artists and masons is continued  to be preserved. They are pride of Indians and places of  public visit.  The  tourist  visitors  should  be properly  regulated   collection  of   funds   by   way   of admission/entrance fee  should bt  conscientiously accounted for and  utilised for  their upkeep  and  maintenance  under

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respect   regulations/rules.   Adequate   annual   budgetary provisions shoudl be provided. In this behalf, it may not be out of  place to mention that if one goes to Williamsburg in United states  of  America,  the  first  settlement  of  the Britishers therein  is preserved  as a  tourist  resort  and though it  is one  in th erow, its originality is maintained and busying business activity goes on in and around th earea attaracting daily  hundreds of  tourists from  all over  the world. Similar  palces of  interest, though of recent orign, need to  be preserved and maintained as manifestation of our cultural heritage  or historical  evidence. Similar  efforts should  also   be  made  by  the  Government  of  India,  in particular  the   Tourism  Department,  to  attract  foreign tourists   and to  give them  good account  of our  past and glory of  the people  of India,  in particular  the  Tourism Department, to  atatract foreign  tourists and  to give them good account of our past and glory of th epeople of India as message to  other countries and territories. Equally all the State Governments would do well vis-a-vis monuments of State importantm though given power under Entry 12, List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. From this perspective, the  petitioner   has  served  a  great  cause  of  national importance and  we place  on record  his effort  to have the Viceregal  Lodge  preserved  and  maintained;  but  for  his painstaking efforts,  it would  have been  desecrated into a Five Star  Hotel and  in no  time "We,  the people of India" would have lost our ancient historical heritage.      The writ petition is accordingly disposed of.