Digitisation of art objects in Museum: HC seeks govt response

Delhi High Court today sought the government response on a PIL seeking direction to take steps for digitisation and computerisation of all art objects for their preservation in the National Museum here.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw directed Ministry of Culture to file an affidavit with regard to the alleged missing of Indian antiquities and loss of valuable manuscripts from the National Museum.
The court said the ministry needs to give report by April 22.
The direction came on a PIL filed by an ex-employeeof the museum alleging the art objects were preserved in a very shabby manner with no proper preservation system.

The public interest litigation filed by R S Atal has said that "the National Museum is the custodian of Indian antiquities collected for over hundreds of year from different parts of the country.
"Its protection and preservation is the prime duty of the National Museum and their security is very very important in national interest. However, these art objects are preserved in a very shabby manner with no proper system of their preservation, because of which many objects have either been replaced, stolen or destroyed".

It said an experts' committee, set up in 2005 in pursuance to this high court order, had recommended certain steps, including digitisation of all art objects, but nothing has been done so far to implement the recommendations.

The PIL said that an Audit Report of 2011 had again highlighted the "irregularities" in the National Museum.
"National Museum is duty-bound to complete digitisation of all art objects whether in General Accession Register (GAR) or Classified Accession Register (CAR) including that of all precious jewellery lying therein," the plea said and sought a direction for implementation of the recommendation made by the experts' committee.
Referring to another suggestion of the committee, the PIL said some art objects have been missing and an inquiry has to be ordered.
"Issue an appropriate order or a direction instituting an inquiry into the loss of valuable manuscripts including replacement of precious artefacts including purchase of fake objects including purchase of fake 'Axe of Nadir Shah'," the plea said.