pil - museum judgment

8/9/2019 PIL - Museum Judgment

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REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION

WRIT PETITION (C) NO.252 OF 2004

SUBHAS DATTA PETITIONER

VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. RESPONDENTS

J U D G M E N T

ADARSH KUMAR GOEL, J.

1. This petitio h!s "ee #i$e% !s p&"$i' ite(est $iti)!tio o the

iss&e o# p(ote'tio o# histo(i'!$ o"*e'ts p(ese(+e% !t %i##e(et p$!'es i

the 'o&t(, p!(ti'&$!($, i +!(io&s -&se&-s. P(!,e( i the petitio is

#o( ! %i(e'tio #o( !%e&!te se'&(it, !((!)e-ets !% #o( p(ope(

i+esti)!tio ito the i'i%ets o# the#t !% %!-!)e to se+e(!$

histo(i'!$ o"*e'ts !% !$so #o( -!/i) ! i+eto(, o# !+!i$!"$e !(ti'$es

#o( #&t&(e.

0. Iiti!$$, the (espo%et i the 2(it petitio 2!s the Uio o# I%i!

th(o&)h Miist(, o# H&-! Reso&('e De+e$op-et "&t ", o(%e( o# this

Co&(t %!te% 3th J&$, 0445 the Di(e'to( Gee(!$ N!tio!$ M&se&-

J!p!th Ne2 De$hi6 the Di(e'to( Gee(!$ A('h!eo$o)i'!$ S&(+e, o#

I%i! J!p!th Ne2 De$hi6 the Di(e'to( N!tio!$ G!$$e(, o# Mo%e( A(t

J!ip&( Ho&se I%i! G!te Ne2 De$hi6 the Di(e'to( I%i! M&se&- 03


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J!2!h!($!$ Neh(& Ro!% 7o$/!t!6 the Se'(et!(, 8 C&(!to( Vi'to(i!

Me-o(i!$ H!$$ 1 9&ee :!, 7o$/!t!6 the Gee(!$ Se'(et!(, Asi!ti'

So'iet, 1 P!(/ St(eet 7o$/!t!6 the Di(e'to( S!$!( J&) M&se&-

H,%e(!"!%6 the A'ti) Di(e'to( A$$!h!"!% M&se&- A$$!h!"!%6 the

Di(e'to( Neh(& Me-o(i!$ M&se&- 8 Li"(!(, Tee M&(ti Ho&se Ne2

De$hi 2e(e i-p$e!%e% !s p!(ties !s the s!i% (espo%ets !(e %i(e't$,

'o'e(e% 2ith the iss&e (!ise% i the petitio.

;. I--e%i!te t(i))e( #o( the petitioe( !ppe!(s to "e the the#t o#

histo(i'!$ !(te#!'ts o# Kabiguru R!"i%(! N!th T!)o(e /ept i the

-&se&- o# Vis2!"h!(!ti Ui+e(sit, !t S!tii/et! i :est Be)!$ o#

2hi'h P(i-e Miiste( is the Ch!'e$$o(. Re#e(e'e h!s "ee -!%e i

the petitio to the i'i%et o# ste!$i) o# )o$%e 'ois #(o- the Asi!ti'

So'iet, o# C!$'&tt! i the ,e!( 1


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(e-o+!$ %ispos!$ o( e>po(t !s the '!se -!, "e. U%e( A(ti'$e ?1A@#

o# the Costit&tio the(e is #&%!-et!$ %&t, to +!$&e !% p(ese(+e

the (i'h he(it!)e o# o&( 'o-posite '&$t&(e. The(e sho&$% "e p(ope(

i+eto(, o# !$$ histo(i'!$ o"*e'ts p(ese(+e% !t %i##e(et 'et(es !%

s&'h i+eto(, sho&$% "e /ept !t ! 'et(!$ p$!'e &%e( the Go+e(-et

o# I%i!. The(e sho&$% "e pe(io%i'!$ sto'/ t!/i) ", ! i%epe%et

!)e',. A'iet Mo&-ets P(ese(+!tio A't 1


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p(ese(+!tio !% -!ite!'e o# !(te#!'ts &%e( thei( '&sto%,. The

Uio o# I%i! 2!s t!/i) e+e(, possi"$e step #o( s!#et, o# !(te#!'ts i

the '&sto%, o# M&se&-sO()!i!tios 'ot(o$$e% ", the-. The

!(te#!'ts !(e s'!tte(e% !$$ o+e( the 'o&t(, i +!(io&s -&se&-s

'ot(o$$e% ", the St!te Go+e(-et !% !$so 2ith P(i+!te M&se&-s

2ho h!+e thei( o2 se'&(it, s,ste-s. The Go+e(-et o# I%i! h!%

et(&ste% the se'&(it, to the CISF 2he(e+e( it 2!s #e$t e'ess!(,. The

se'&(it, s'e!(io is (e+ie2e% #(o- ti-e to ti-e. It 2!s ot possi"$e to

t!/e (esposi"i$it, o# eti(e p(i+!te !% St!te Go+e(-et o2e%

M&se&-s !% it 2!s !$so ot #i!'i!$$, #e!si"$e to %o so. The Miist(,

o# C&$t&(e p(o+i%es #&%s #o( -&se&-s to !'&i(e e&ip-ets.

A -eeti) 2!s 'o+ee% o 5th

Ap(i$ 044= ", the Miist(, o# C&$t&(e

o iss&es (e$!ti) to se'&(it,. A Co--ittee 2!s set &p &%e( the

'h!i(-!ship o# Di(e'to( Gee(!$ N!tio!$ M&se&- #o( !ssessi) the

se'&(it, ee%s o# +!(io&s -&se&-s. The -&se&-s &%e( the Miist(,

o# C&$t&(e h!+e "ee !%+ise% to #o$$o2 se'&(it, o(-s s&))este% ",

the Co--ittee. It -!, ot "e #i!'i!$$, +i!"$e to %ep$o, ! spe'i!$ie%

#o('e !t !$$ p$!'es 2he(e the !%-iist(!tio !% '&sto%, o# !(te#!'ts is

eithe( i the St!te Go+e(-ets o( i p(i+!te h!%s "&t p(i+!te$, (&

se'&(it, !)e'ies 'o&$% "e hi(e% #o( the p&(pose. The M&se&-s &%e(

the !%-iist(!ti+e 'ot(o$ o# Miist(, o# C&$t&(e 2e(e /eepi) the

i+eto(, o# !(t o"*e'ts 2hi'h 2e(e +e(i#ie% #(o- ti-e to ti-e. The

st!te o()!i!tios 2e(e e)!)e% i the p(o)(!--e o# %i)iti!tio o#


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!(te#!'ts. Iiti!ti+es 2e(e "ei) t!/e i -issio -o%e #o( p(ope(

%o'&-et!tio o# !(te#!'ts !% -o&-ets. The Ati&ities 8 A(t

T(e!s&(es A't 1it poits6 p(e+eti+e !% %ete((et

-e!s&(es sho&$% "e i'(e!se%6 Doo( F(!-e% Met!$ Dete'to( @DFMD

sho&$% "e ist!$$e% !t the -!i et(!'e6 H!% Hee% Met!$ Dete'to(

@HHMD sho&$% "e p(o+i%e% to se'&(it, st!##6 CCTV '!-e(!s sho&$% "e

ist!$$e% !t %i##e(et $o'!tios6 :!$/ieT!$/ie !% Ite('o- #!'i$it,

sho&$% "e p(o+i%e% !t e!'h se'&(it, poit6 the(e sho&$% "e Cot(o$

Roo- to 'oo(%i!te #&'tioi) o# -&se&- !% se'&(it, st!##6 the(e

sho&$% "e A&to C!-e(! !t the -!i et(!'e. I#(!(e% A$!(- s,ste-

o( P&'he% T!pe% Co'e(ti! o( E$e't(i' Fe'i) sho&$% "e ist!$$e% !t


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the pe(i-ete( o# the M&se&- "&i$%i). The )(i$$s i the 2i%o2s

sho&$% "e (ee#o('e%. The(e sho&$% "e "!))!)e R!, -!'hie.

The(e sho&$% "e E$e't(oi' Lo'/s @M!)eti' #o( !$$ %oo(s o# G!$$e(ies

Sto(!)es !% St(o) Roo-s. Visito( #$o2 sho&$% "e (e)&$!te% ",

Bio-et(i' Photo)(!ph, s,ste-. Ite(!$ ite$$i)e'e st!## sho&$% "e

e-p$o,e%. E+e(, -&se&- sho&$% '!((, o&t se'&(it, !&%it !% i-p!(t

o(iet!tio p(o)(!--e i st(!te)i' !(e!s. S!#e /eepi) o# /e,s o#

M&se&- sho&$% "e es&(e%. A C&(!to( sho&$% "e %ep&te% #o( opei)

!% '$osi) o# the -&se&-. G!$$e(, $o'/s sho&$% "e ist!$$e%. Re)&$!(

%(i$$ sho&$% "e '!((ie% o&t !t $e!st o'e i th(ee -oths. The(e sho&$%

"e Sp!ti!$ P$!i) #o( Se'&(it, 2hi'h sho&$% "e !estheti'!$$,

!tt(!'ti+e 2ith ! 'osistet Si)!)e S,ste- se(+i'e &its sho&$% ot

(e-!i i )!$$e(, !(e!s. The(e sho&$% "e st!%", A&to-!ti' Po2e(

B!'/Up S,ste-. The(e sho&$% "e "&$$etp(oo# )$!ss #o( +&$e(!"$e !(t

o"*e'ts !% *e2e$$e(, ite-s sho&$% "e sto(e% i the St(o) Roo-. I#(!

(e% S,ste- o( p!iti) )!$$e(, !% E$e't(oi' Seso( T!)s sho&$% "e

&se% #o( %isp$!,e% o"*e'ts. -- to 5-- thi'/ess o# )$!ss sho&$% "e

&se% #o( t!"$e sho2'!ses. Po$i'e +e(i#i'!tio o# 2o(/e(s sho&$% "e

'!((ie% o&t. P(e+eti+e !% Fi(e Fi)hti) Me!s&(es sho&$% "e !%opte%

s-o/e %ete'to(s sho&$% "e ist!$$e%. Fi(e !$!(- s,ste- sho&$% "e

ist!$$e%. E$e't(oi' 'ho/e sho&$% "e &se% i sho2'!ses. T(ippi)

s,ste- sho&$% "e st(e)thee% #o( i%eti#i'!tio o# sho(t 'i('&its.

Ispe'tio o# #i(e #i)hti) i the e$e't(oi' s,ste- sho&$% "e '!((ie%


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o&t. Mii-&- 2oo%e ite-s sho&$% "e &se% i )!$$e(ies #i(e (esist!t

'$oth '&p"o!(% !% $o'/e( sho&$% "e &se% #o( p!(titio. The St!%i)

Co--ittee o# the M&se&- sho&$% es&(e th!t p$&) poits !(e ot

"(o/e 'o%&ite% e$e't(i'!$ 2i(i) sho&$% "e &se% !% e$e't(i'!$

#itti)s !(e (ep$!'e%. The -&se&- sho&$% h!+e te'hi'!$ st!## #o(

C&(!to(i!$Te'hi'!$O##i'i!$ M!!)e-et. Re'o(% sho&$% "e

-!it!ie% p(ope($, !s pe( %et!i$e% )&i%e$ies $!i% %o2.

3. Noti'i) the st!% i the 'o&te( !##i%!+it this Co&(t o

10thA&)&st 044? %i(e'te% the Miist(, to #i$e ! "ette( !% %et!i$e%

!##i%!+it !"o&t the i-p$e-et!tio o# the (e'o--e%!tios !% the

(es&$ts !'hie+e%. The Miist(, 2!s !$so %i(e'te% to 'osi%e( )i+i)

spe'i!$ie% t(!ii) i (espe't o# se'&(it, !% !$so to 'osi%e( the

s&))estio o# +e(i#i'!tio "ei) %oe ", o&tsi%e !)e'ies.

5. A''o(%i)$, ! !%%itio!$ !##i%!+it 2!s #i$e% o


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o# se'&(it, !((!)e-ets h!s "ee i%i'!te%. A''o(%i) to the

!##i%!+it (e'o--e%!tios o# Se'&(it, Co--ittee h!+e "ee

i-p$e-ete% ", +!(io&s -&se&-s !% so-e (e'o--e%!tios 2e(e

i the p(o'ess o# i-p$e-et!tio. It h!s "ee #&(the( st!te% th!t

tho&)h the ph,si'!$ +e(i#i'!tio is (e)&$!($, %oe ", -&se&- st!## the

i%e! o# et(&sti) ph,si'!$ +e(i#i'!tio to o&tsi%e !)e', h!s "ee

!''epte% i p(i'ip$e. As (e)!(%s spe'i!$ie% t(!ii) it is st!te% th!t

se'&(it, o# N!tio!$ M&se&- !% S!$!( J&) M&se&- h!s "ee h!%e%

o+e( to CISF 2hi$e se'&(it, o# IGRMSBhop!$ NMML Ne2 De$hi NGMA

M&-"!i !% Ne2 De$hi !(e "ei) $oo/e% !#te( ", thei( o2 se'&(it,

st!## +i. Se'&(it, Assist!t G!$$e(, Atte%!t Cho2/i%!(s et'. It is

ot #i!'i!$$, #e!si"$e to o()!ie ! spe'i!$ #o('e #o( the se'&(it, o#

M&se&-s sp(e!% !$$ o+e( the 'o&t(, !s the +!(io&s -&se&-ssites

!(e &%e( the 'ot(o$ o# +!(io&s !)e'ies s&'h !s Cet(!$ Go+e(-et

St!te Go+e(-et Se-i Go+e(-et Bo%ies T(&sts P(i+!te Bo%ies

et'.


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o# Miist(, o# C&$t&(e 2e(e i the p(o'ess o# 'o-p&te(ii) the %et!i$s

o# the !(te#!'ts. The(e !(e ite(!$ ph,si'!$ +e(i#i'!tio s,ste-s &%e(

2hi'h !(te#!'ts !(e +e(i#ie% !t (e)&$!( ite(+!$s i -&se&-s &%e( the

'ot(o$ o# Miist(, o# C&$t&(e. Ph,si'!$ +e(i#i'!tio is spe'i!$ie% *o"

2hi'h sho&$% "e %oe o$, ", e>pe(ts. A Co--ittee #o( ph,si'!$

+e(i#i'!tio 2!s 'ostit&te% &%e( the Ch!i(-!ship o# Sh(i M.N.

Deshp!%e (eti(e% Di(e'to( Gee(!$ ASI 2hi'h 2!s (e'ostit&te% ",

s&"stit&ti) Sh(i M. V!(!%!(!*! #o(-e( Se'(et!(, @C&$t&(e i

Ap(i$ 1


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!% othe( '!ses i &estio. The Miist(, o# C&$t&(e 2!s !$so %i(e'te%

to (espo% to the !##i%!+it o# the Di(e'to( I%i! M&se&- th!t %&e to

sho(t!)e o# -!po2e( !% !"se'e o# s'ho$!(s !% e>pe(ts i I%i!

M&se&- 7o$/!t! the 2o(/ o# +e(i#i'!tio 2hi'h 2!s st!(te% i the ,e!(

044? 'o&$% ot "e 'o-p$ete% e+e i se+e ,e!(s. The Miist(, o#

C&$t&(e 2!s %i(e'te% to $oo/ ito the -!tte( !% p(o+i%e (eso&('es so

th!t s&"st!ti!$ p(o)(ess 'o&$% "e !'hie+e%. The Miist(, 2!s !$so

%i(e'te% to $oo/ ito the p!&'it, o# s#i'iet p$!'e !s the M&se&- 2!s

ot i ! positio to %isp$!, its ite-s !% to -!it!i thei( -&se&-.

Di(e'tios 2e(e !$so iss&e% #o( 'o-p$etio o# +e(i#i'!tio o# the

(e-!ii) ite-s ", the Vi'to(i! Me-o(i!$ H!$$. The Go+e(-et o#

I%i! 2!s %i(e'te% to $oo/ ito the (e&i(e-et #o( (esi%eti!$

!''o--o%!tio #o( the CISF st!## e!( Vi'to(i! Me-o(i!$ H!$$. The

St!te Go+e(-et 2!s !$so %i(e'te% to $oo/ ito this !spe't.

11. The(e!#te( !##i%!+it %!te% 0%Ap(i$ 041; h!s "ee #i$e% o "eh!$#

o# the Miiste( st!ti) th!t ! -eeti) 2!s he$% i the Miist(, to

%is'&ss the iss&e o# ph,si'!$ +e(i#i'!tio o# o"*e'ts !t I%i! M&se&-

7o$/!t! !% Vi'to(i! Me-o(i!$ H!$$ !% CISF h!% !)(ee% to p(o+i%e

e'ess!(, st!## #o( se'&(it, s&"*e't to !''o--o%!tio "ei) p(o+i%e%.

A##i%!+its %!te% 01stSepte-"e( 041; h!+e !$so "ee #i$e% o "eh!$# o#

the Vi'to(i! Me-o(i!$ H!$$ !% the I%i! M&se&- st!ti) th!t

+e(i#i'!tio o# !$$ ite-s !+!i$!"$e 2ith it h!% !$-ost "ee '!((ie% o&t

!% th!t the iss&e o# se'&(it, 2!s !$so "ei) so(te% o&t.


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10. :e h!+e he!(% the petitioe( ipe(so !% $e!(e% 'o&se$ #o(

the (espo%ets.

1;. The petitioe( i pe(so s&"-its th!t ispite o# +!(io&s %i(e'tios

o# this Co&(t %&(i) pe%e', o# this petitio #o( the $!st -o(e th! te

,e!(s the sit&!tio is sti$$ ot s!tis#!'to(,. Neithe( the sto$e !(ti'$es

h!+e "ee (e'o+e(e% o( !%e&!te se'&(it, -e!s&(es #&$$, !%opte%.

The &p%!ti) o# i+eto(, !% its '(oss 'he'/i) ee%s to "e es&(e%.

1=. Le!(e% A%%itio!$ So$i'ito( Gee(!$ !% the $e!(e% 'o&se$ #o(

the (espo%ets #!i($, st!te% th!t the 'o'e( o# the petitioe( is

)e&ie !% the(e is e+e(, ee% to (e+ie2 the se'&(it, -e!s&(es !%

to &p%!te the i+eto(,. The, !ss&(e% the Co&(t th!t the 'o'e( 2i$$

"e !%%(esse% !% e'ess!(, steps i the -!tte( 2i$$ "e t!/e.

1?. It '! h!(%$, "e )!is!i% th!t p(ese(+!tio o# (i'h he(it!)e !%

'&$t&(e o# the 'o&t(, is ! 'ostit&tio!$ -!%!te. I UNESCO

Co+etio o the -e!s o# P(ohi"iti) !% P(e+eti) the I$$i'it

I-po(t E>po(t !% T(!s#e( o# O2e(ship o# C&$t&(!$ P(ope(t, !%opte%

i the Gee(!$ Co#e(e'e o# the Uite% N!tios E%&'!tio!$ S'ieti#i'

!% C&$t&(!$ O()!i!tio -eeti) i P!(is #(o-

10thO'to"e( to 1=thNo+e-"e( 1teeth sessio 2hi'h h!s

"ee %&$, (!ti#ie% ", I%i! the spi(it o# the s!i% -!%!te h!s "ee

(eite(!te%. The Ite(!tio!$ Co&'i$ o# M&se&-s @ICOM @2o(/i) 2ith

the s&ppo(t o# UNESCO h!s iss&e% )&i%e$ies #o( %is!ste(

p(ep!(e%ess i M&se&-s 2hi'h !(e 2e$$ /o2 to those 'o'e(e%


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2ith the -!!)e-et o# M&se&-s. The UNESCO i its &!(te($,

*o&(!$ M&se&- h!s s&))este% -e!s&(es #o( se'&(it, o# -&se&-

o"*e'ts i the $i)ht o# st&%ies &%e(t!/e ", it. Pe(#o(-!'e !&%it o#

p(ese(+!tio !% 'ose(+!tio o# Mo&-ets !% Ati&ities is !$so

'o%&'te% ", the Co-pt(o$$e( !% A&%ito( Gee(!$ o# I%i! @CAG.

I its 15th (epo(t o# 041; +!(io&s o"se(+!tios h!+e "ee -!%e ",

the CAG. Le!(e% 'o&se$ #o( the (espo%ets !''ept the $e)!$

positio !% !$so s&"-it th!t the se'&(it, !% -!ite!'e o# histo(i'

!(te#!'ts (e&i(es se(io&s !% 'oti&o&s e##o(ts ", te'hi'!$$, t(!ie%

pe(sos. The 'h!$$e)es poite% o&t ", the (espo%ets 2ho !(e

(&i) !% -!!)i) -&se&-s i thei( !##i%!+its th!t the(e !(e

sp!'e 'ost(!its -!po2e( sho(t!)e !% $!'/ o# othe( (eso&('es

ee% to "e $oo/e% ito ", the Miist(, o# C&$t&(e !% othe( 'o'e(e%

!&tho(ities !% !pp(op(i!te -oito(i) -e'h!is- ee%s to "e p&t i

p$!'e. Re&isite #&%s h!+e to "e !$$o'!te% so !s to es&(e s!#e

/eepi) o# the +!$&!"$e !(te#!'ts.

1. I +ie2 o# !ss&(!'e o# $e!(e% A%%itio!$ So$i'ito( Gee(!$ !%

othe( 'o&se$ #o( the (espo%ets it -!, ot "e e'ess!(, to )i+e !,

spe'i#i' %i(e'tio !t this st!)e. The(e is o (e!so to %o&"t the st!%

o# the Cet(!$ Go+e(-et !% the othe( (espo%ets th!t !$$

e'ess!(, steps 2i$$ "e t!/e !% (e+ie2e% #(o- ti-e to ti-e. This

Co&(t e>pe'ts th!t the Se'(et!(, Miist(, o# C&$t&(e 2i$$ (e+ie2 the

-!tte( !% t!/e s&'h e'ess!(, steps !s -!, "e i%eti#ie% 2ithi oe


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-oth #(o- the %!te o# (e'eipt o# ! 'op, o# this o(%e(. The(e!#te(

(e+ie2 -eeti)s -!, "e he$% !t $e!st o'e i e+e(, si> -oths to

'osi%e( #&(the( 'o&(se o# !'tio. I# !, )(ie+!'e s&(+i+es it 2i$$ "e

ope to !, !))(ie+e% pe(so to t!/e $e)!$ (e-e%ies i !''o(%!'e

2ith $!2.

13. :ith the !"o+e o"se(+!tios the 2(it petitio is %ispose% o#.

J. @T.S. THA7UR

.....J. @ADARSH 7UMAR GOEL

NE: DELHIFEBRUAR ; 041?

pil - museum judgment

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