Monumental Delisting: The Changing Landscape of India's Protected Heritage

The Indian government has delisted 18 monuments from its roster of protected sites, citing their lack of national importance. Among these are the memorial to British officer John Nicholson in Delhi, and two Kos Minars in Haryana. The details were shared with Parliament by Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

In response to inquiries, Shekhawat revealed that while there are no current plans to alter the Archaeological Survey of India's protection list, a parliamentary committee suggested forming an independent panel to reevaluate delisting criteria. However, there are no immediate amendments planned for the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

The minister also addressed requests to denotify monuments in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district, affirming these processes depend on case merits. With monument preservation being a state matter, the responsibility lies with individual state governments following these delistings.

(With inputs from agencies.)