HC dismisses architect’s plea to preserve Hall of Nations

A day before demolition of the ‘Hall of Nations’ building at Pragati Maidan was expected to begin, the Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea by the building’s architect to preserve it.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva dismissed as “without merit” the plea by architect Raj Rewal, who had designed the building that was constructed in 1972.

The court’s order was based on the decision of the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC), set up to protect heritage structures, which held that buildings older than 60 or more years only would be considered for heritage status.

The Hall of Nations, being only 45 years old, would not get the protection of being considered as a heritage structure as per the HCC guidelines, the court noted in its ruling.

The High Court also said that since the heritage committee guidelines, formulated in February this year, have not been challenged, the Hall of Fame architect has no legal right to seek preservation of the structure.

The court also observed that the architect had not challenged the March 3 decision of the Delhi Urban Arts Commission that had approved the plan for an integrated exhibition centre, which would come up at the Pragati Maidan.

The court, however, said its judgment will not prevent the architect from seeking any relief under the Copyright Act, which provides for seeking damages if an artistic work is “modified or mutilated”.