Hindu Temples: What Happened to Them v2.c19.s1.15

v2.c19.s1.15

For various reasons, the Survey could start operations at Sidhpur only after ten more years had elapsed. As the Trustees were pressing for pulling down the acquired houses, the Superintending Archaeologist, Baroda, inspected the site early in May, 1979 and decided to implement the decision of the Joint Director General of Archaeology by pulling down the acquired houses.¹⁷ The operations were started on May 29, 1980. As the northern wall was very shabby and in a dilapidated condition, it had to be repaired after pulling down. The digging of the acquired area was necessary for the preparation of a garden. He discussed the operation with the Trustees but before any step to pull down the compound wall was taken, the Trustees filed a Writ Petition in the High Court on 12th June, 1979 and an injunction asking the Archaeological Survey of India to maintain *status quo* in the Masjid area was issued.¹⁸