Shifting of Archival Record, Dogra Art Museum to Kala Kendra
*Archives Deptt insisting on violation of Master Plan
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 7: Even after the lapse of four years, the explicit directives of the High Court regarding shifting of Archival Record and Dogra Art Museum to Kala Kendra at Bikram Chowk have remained unimplemented mainly due to adamant attitude of those at the helm of affairs in the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum.
Moreover, the inordinate delay in this regard is creating impediment in start of conversation work of vital portion of the historic Mubarak Mandi Complex, which otherwise was allotted through e-tendering in the month of October last year.
In a writ petition titled Shah Mohd Choudhary Versus State of Jammu and Kashmir and Others, Justice Tashi Rabstan had, on November 24, 2016, ordered, “keeping in view the deteriorating condition of the building and having regard to the report submitted on the subject, I deem it proper to direct the respondents for immediate shifting of the records of the Department of Archives and Archaeology to the first floor of Kala Kendra at Bikram Chowk for their safe keeping till permanent arrangement is made”.
“The respondents shall also take necessary expert advice while shifting the records so that same are properly preserved”, High Court had further directed while giving time-frame of four months for completion of entire exercise.
However, despite lapse of four years the explicit directives of the High Court have remained unimplemented mainly because of non-serious approach on the part of those who remained at the helm of affairs in the Archives, Archaeology and Museum Department, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“The adamant attitude of the department is notwithstanding the fact that due to ongoing conservation work at historic Mubarak Mandi Complex very few people are in a position to have access to the Archival Record and Dogra Art Museum”, sources said, adding “even due to massive dust being generated by ongoing works keeping record there for more period amounts to deteriorating its quality further”.
They disclosed that instead of shifting the record to Kala Kendra as directed by the High Court, the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum is putting pressure on the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society for violation of Master Plan which was approved by none else than the then Governor of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik on March 5, 2019.
In blatant violation of the High Court directives and approved Master Plan, the Deputy Director of Archives, Archaeology and Museum Jammu Tsering Tashi on October 28, 2020 dashed a communication to the Executive Director of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society laying stress on shifting of Archival Record and Dogra Art Museum to recently renovated Army Headquarters inside the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex.
“In compliance to decision taken by Advisor Baseer Khan, you are requested to hand over the Army Headquarter (ground floor and first floor) to our department so that process of shifting of Dogra Art Museum and Archival record can be initiated immediately”, read the letter, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
“It seems that Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum had kept the Advisor in dark about the directives of the High Court”, sources said, adding “even otherwise the Army Headquarters doesn’t have all the paraphernalia to ensure proper upkeep and maintenance of the record”.
As entire Mubarak Mandi Complex will remain out of bound for the people for minimum four-five years because of ongoing conservation works, shifting of Archival Record and Dogra Art Museum to Army Headquarters would amount to depriving the people of access to the historic record and other valuables, they said, adding “if the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum feels that there are some problems in keeping the Archival Record and Dogra Art Museum to Kala Kendra it can get minor modifications in the structure done by engaging the experts in the field”.
“Moreover, by shifting everything to Kala Kendra the people particularly youngsters can be given the opportunity to have access to the documents and articles of historic importance”, sources said, adding “it seems that Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum wants to hide its failures in proper maintenance of record by not putting it in public domain”.
They further said that due to non shifting of Archival Record and Dogra Art Museum to Kala Kendra and vacation of building within the historic complex the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society is facing immense difficulties in start of conservation work, which was allotted to an expert company in the month of October last year by following the transparent tendering process.
“Moreover, the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museum can engage some experts particularly National Art Museum to ensure safe shifting of record to Kala Kendra by spending meagre amount”, sources said, adding “keeping in view the adamant attitude of the department the Chief Secretary should personally intervene and ensure that High Court’s directions are implemented without further loss of time”.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
