Petition in Bombay HC demanding removal of Aurangzeb's tomb

Claim that the tomb does not fit the definition of national monuments

Mumbai – A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking the demolition of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave in Khuldabad, located in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district.

The petition, filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar, urged the court to direct the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb from the list of national monuments. It argues that the site does not align with Section 3 of the ASI Act, 1958, which designates certain ancient monuments and archaeological sites as being of national importance.

Nearby are the graves of one of Aurangzeb’s sons, the first Nizam of Hyderabad, Asaf Jah I, and his son Nasir Jung. The petition also seeks the demolition of these graves.

Important points in the petition

1. Aurangzeb’s reign is a black page in Indian history. During this period, atrocities were committed against Hindu women, Hindu temples were destroyed.

2. There is nothing for the future generations to inherit or learn from this tomb. Therefore, this tomb should be excluded from the list of historical heritage buildings or national monuments.

3. These individuals, including Aurangzeb, have no national significance in Indian history and have not had any significant impact on Indian society.

The court will hear the petition in due course.