- (1.) THE petitioner "Uttar Pradesh Jat Mahasabha" through its President Surendra Singh has filed the present writ petition praying for a manda­mus commanding the respondent Union of India and the authorities of the State of U.P. to consider the declaration of the premises in question as a protected ancient monument of public importance under the Ancient Monument and Archaeo­logical Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and for a further direction to take steps for its protection by taking suitable action in the matter as the premises is sought to be demolished.
(2.) SRI RC. Jain learned counsel for the petitioner, relying on the decision in the case of Rajeev Mankotia v. Secretary to President of India, AIR 1997 SC 2766, has urged that keeping in view the historical importance of the building and the heritage status thereof, the same should be declared to be a protected monu­ment and it should not be allowed to be demolished either by the respondent No. 7 or their assignees. This Public Interest Litigation was assigned by Hon'ble the Chief Justice to this bench to be decided along with the connected writ petition No. 47276 of 2008.
(3.) WE have heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Standing Coun­sel for the State as well as the learned counsel for the Union of India and have also heard Sri V.K. Singh learned Senior Counsel who is for the petitioner in Writ Petition No. 47276 of 2008.;