ASI tells court worship can't be revived at Qutub Minar

New Delhi: In response to an application seeking restoration of 27 temples inside the Qutub Minar complex, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) told a Delhi court on Tuesday that revival of worship cannot be allowed.

The ASI its reply before Additional District Judge Nikhil Chopra at Saket district court said that architectural images of Hindu and Jain deities were used in the construction of the Qutub Minar complex.

However, ASI said that the right to practice worship could not allowed as it was 'not practiced at the time of the protection of the monument", according to The Indian Express.

An application filed said that Jain deity Tirthankar Lord Rishabh Dev and others as seeking restoration of deities of 27 temples within the complex, saying they have the right to be worshipped with rites and rituals, according to the report.

ASI submitted to the court that fundamental right for worshipping cannot to availed violating the status of the land.

It further said: "The basic principle of protection/conservation is not to allow starting of any new practice in a monument declared and notified as a protected one under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958. Revival of worship is not allowed wherever it is not practiced at the time of protection of a monument."

The ASI responded that architectural images of Hindu and Jain deities used in the construction of the Qutub complex are clear from the inscription at the Quwwat-ul-islam mosque.

The inscription, according to report, stated the cloisters were raised with carved columns and other architectural members from the 27 temples.

The ASI also said in response that images were used upside down at some places when the complex was constructed.