HC stays building construction near protected 'Bara Imambara'

Lucknow, Dec 7 (UNI) Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court today stayed the construction of a multi-storeyed buliding in the Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University, as the building came under the prohibited area -- 100 metre vicinity -- of the protected monument 'Bara Imambara.' Judges Amarnath Verma and S N Shukla passed the order, while hearing a PIL filed by Saiyyad Vaseem.

Besides, the court asked the central and the state governments to respond to the petition within four weeks.

According to the PIL, Imambara of Asafuddaulah (Bara Imambara) is was a heritage building and protected monument under the Ancient Monments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

Any construction within the 100 metre vicinity of the protected monument was prohibited and considered illegal.

However, a building could be constructed within 200 metre vicinity after the permission of Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

Party ASI had also given notice to the University to stop the construction of the building, but it continued.

UNI