Saurabh Malik

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21

Located on the south-east of Sirsa, Ther Mound has the past buried deep inside. Stone sculptures and other relics of previous times indicate that the ancient town of Sarishika is lying in ruins under the mound.

Encroachments have prevented the carrying out of archaeological excavations even though coins, an inscription, pottery pieces and other antiquities collected from surface exploration established its archaeological relevance. All this may soon change with the initiation of process for vacating the “remaining 54 acres of Ther Mound” in a year.

As the matter came up for resumed hearing, an affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary was placed before the Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli. Among other things, it said the authorities had taken a decision to consider the proposal of Kelnia panchayat in a meeting presided over by the Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister.

It stated that the panchayat had offered land and the authorities had taken necessary steps to purchase it for developing it by carving out plots in accordance with a plan prepared by the Deputy Commissioner concerned and the Department of Development and Panchayats. “The exercise of vacating the remaining 54 acres of Ther Mound shall be taken up and completed within 12 months,” it added.

Taking note of the submissions, the Bench directed the matter to be listed after four weeks. The state was directed to furnish a progress and action taken report. “The respondents are directed to file further affidavits regarding the progress made for making the area encroachment free,” the Bench concluded.

In an earlier affidavit, the Bench was told that 25 acres had been cleared of encroachment and possession handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India. Digging deep into the issue of preserving heritage sites, the High Court had, about two years back, ordered excavation of history concealed under the layers of time at Ther Mound.

The directions came in a suo motu case against then Sirsa Deputy Commissioner J Ganeshan after a series of stern orders by the Bench. At one point of time, the Bench had observed: “The attempts of this court to enforce its own orders seem to have run into a stiff wall of meaningless responses and hollow assurances by the officials of the state.”

The Bench had noted that the needful had not been done despite numerous orders expressing anguish and concern over the attitude of the respondent and attempts to enforce its orders by cajoling and warning them. The Bench had added that it was a fit case wherein all Deputy Commissioners, who filed affidavits, were required to be summoned to face contempt proceedings as each affidavit stood falsified.