Lagatar24 Desk
Patna, Sept 24: The Bihar government’s decision to demolish the iconic 100-year-old landmark in the centre of the city in order to construct a five-star hotel has been questioned by the Patna High Court, which has also stayed the order in the proposed demolition.
According to the petitioner’s lawyers, the court ordered the stay on the Palace’s demolition at a Friday online session on a recent PIL. The Palace was constructed in 1922 by barrister Sir Sultan Ahmed.
The decision has given much-needed relief to historical enthusiasts and a sizable segment of the populace who had been calling for the government to reverse the decision and instead restore and repurpose the palace.
The petitioner Amarjeet (28) is a Patna-based lawyer who filed the public interest litigation (PIL). This was the case’s first hearing, according to a member of the legal team that represented him.
“The PIL, titled Amarjeet vs Union of India, against the decision of Bihar government to demolish the heritage building ‘Sultan Palace’ in Patna, which is commonly known as Parivahan Bhawan, was filed before the Patna High Court a few weeks ago.
“A division bench of the Chief Justice of the High Court Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S Kumar stayed the proposed demolition of the Sultan Palace,” the member said.
The Bihar government has been asked by the court to explain why it intends to demolish a 100-year-old historical structure and has been given eight weeks to do so.
One of the judges on the bench also referenced Rajasthan as an example, where historic structures have been preserved, renovated, and used as hotels or for other reasons while also being celebrated.
The state cabinet has approved the construction of three five-star hotels in Patna, including one on Beer Chand Patel Road, where the palace is located, according to a mid-June announcement by the Nitish Kumar government.
The government had then declared that the massive building will be demolished to make room for a hotel designed to resemble a contemporary high-rise.
