Plea for restoration of deities inside Qutub Minar opposed

One-liner: The Archaeological Survey of India on Tuesday opposed a plea before a Delhi court seeking restoration of Hindu and Jain deities inside the Qutub Minar complex.

Not a place of worship: It said it is not a place of worship and the existing status of the monument can't be altered.

• The ASI also said it would be contrary to the law to agree to the contention of any person claiming a fundamental right to worship in this centrally protected monument

Images of deities: The ASI, however, said that the architectural materials and images of Hindu and Jain deities were re-used in the construction of the Qutab complex.

Persian inscription: The counsel for ASI said it was very clear from the Persian inscription that the cloisters were erected with carved columns from 27 temples.

Suit dismissed: The court was hearing a plea filed against an order of a magisterial court, which had dismissed a suit filed by an advocate on behalf of Jain deity Tirthankar.

Source: PTI