CBI fails to trace 400-yr-old Quran
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 16: High Court today closed the PIL regarding safety and protection of artifacts and monumental sites in the State with the direction to the authorities to ensure adequate care towards security and safety of artifacts in the State.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Alok Aradhe closed the PIL which was pending since 2008 after the Court by both the parties has been informed that the aim and endeavor in the PIL has been achieved by the authorities with the intervention of Court and by passing significant directions from time to time.
However, with regard to recovery of 400 years old manuscript of Holy Quran which was stolen from SPS museum Srinagar in 2003, court has been informed that CBI has submitted its closure report before the Court of CJM Srinagar as the investigation remained inconclusive and the manuscript could be traced out.
The PIL was filed by NGO (Valley Citizens council) seeking safety of artifacts and monumental sites in the State as the museum was in pathetic condition lacking safety, manpower, financial implications and security for the antique articles lying in the museum and missing/stolen artifacts from the museum way back in 2003.
It is with the intervention of the Court that museum has been provided with adequate staff, security and safety of articles in the museum with CCTV cameras and other sources of security as also various old Gold and Silver coins were brought back in the museum which were outside the State and in this connection Indian National Art and Culture with the collaboration of Archeology, Archives and museums Srinagar has compiled catalogues of all these artifacts lying in the museum with one set in the custody of Archeological Survey of India other with the High Court.
With regard to monumental sites in the State, court has been informed that 21 monumental sites are found in Kashmir and these sites are under the control of Archeological Survey of India.
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