Hussainabad Trust gets two weeks to reply to PIL

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has provided two weeks’ time to the Hussainabad Trust, Lucknow, to file a reply (counter-affidavit) on a PIL seeking directions for proper maintenance and upkeep of Shahnajaf Imambada at Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow.

A division bench of justice Vikram Nath and justice Daya Shankar Tripathi passed this order on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by one Raj Bano. The petitioner submitted that the said Imambara was built sometime in 1816 -17 by Nawab Gaziuddin, the last Nawab Wazir and the first king of the state of Awadh.

The petitioner further mentioned that this monument was of historical importance and protected under the relevant Act.

Nevertheless, neither the Archaeological Survey of India nor the state administration was maintaining the monument, the petitioner claimed.

Rather, its surrounding and adjoining land is being encroached upon with impunity, the petitioner alleged.

SM Rayakwar, the counsels for the Hussainabad Trust, prayed for and was granted two weeks’ time by the court to file a reply in the matter. SB Pandey, the counsel for the central government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), filed a counter affidavit which was taken on record. He said the Imambara was maintained by the central government and the ASI. The state authorities and Trust were responsible for removing the encroachment around it, he added.

The petitioner’s counsel prayed for and was granted two weeks’ time to file the rejoinder affidavit. The court directed to list this case after four weeks.

NEITHER THE ASI NOR THE STATE ADMN WAS MAINTAINING THE MONUMENT, THE PETITIONER CLAIMED