To begin with, Qutub Minar is not a place of worship, and modification of the existing structure is not permissible. On Tuesday, the Archaeological Survey of India, ASI, told a Delhi court hearing a petition claiming the monument has pictures of deities suggesting the Hindu origin of the building. The plea sought permission to worship the gods, and ASI said the revival of worship is not allowed. It added no community had honored Qutub Minar or any of its parts since the time it has been a protected monument, even though there are several structures within the complex.
The petition cites that Qutub Minar’s Quwwat-ul-Islam was raised by reusing material.
Subsequently, the plea was filed on behalf of Jain deity Tirthankar Rishabh Dev and Hindu god Vishnu by advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Ranjana Agnihotri. The petition cites a short history purportedly displayed by ASI, which, according to the plea, narrates how 27 temples were demolished by Qutubdin Aibak, a general in Mohamad Ghori’s army and the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque was raised by reusing the material. The petitioner urged the court to issue an injunction to the Centre to create a trust and hand over management of the temple complex.
Meanwhile, the plea claimed that Qutub Minar premises have “clear pictures of Hindu Gods and deities like Shri Ganesh, Vishnu and Yaksha” and several symbols like Kalash and sacred lotus with temple wells, which suggest a Hindu origin of the building. Opposing the plea, ASI said there is no provision under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act under which worship can be started at a monument.
Court directs ASI not to remove two idols from the Qutub Minar complex.
In conclusion, on April 18, the court directed ASI not to remove two idols of Lord Ganesha from the Qutub Minar complex till further directions after the plaintiff filed an application stating his apprehension that the idols may be removed. The two standards are located in the compound of the 12th-century monument, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Following this, the court ordered status quo till further orders.
