Minor change in stay on shifting of Keeladi artefacts

In the petition that was filed by Kanimozhi Mathi, from Chennai she had claimed that in the recently concluded Sangam-4 literary meet at Madurai, many research papers were submitted on Keeladi and more than 5,300 antique artefacts were unearthed from the archaeological site.

According to research, the Keeladi site is spread over 110 acres. Hardly one square acre has been explored. In this circumstance the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) had planned to shift the artefacts to Mysore and then close the archaeological site. 

The ASI had also planned to setup the Keeladi Heritage Palace at Bengaluru using the artefacts collected from the site. Kanimozhi prayed the Court to stop shifting of artefacts and not to close the archaeological site. After hearing the petition Court had stayed the shifting of artefacts to Mysore. However Director of Archaeological Survey of India appeared at the High Court and filed a counter, on Tuesday. 

In the counter he had claimed that central government’s nod is essential to setup a museum at Keeladi. They need at least 2 acres to setup a museum and the state government had allotted only 72 cents for them. 

However important artefacts needed to be taken to other states and even to foreign countries to carry out radio carbon dating to assess the exact age of Keeladi. Hence the Court should lift the stay and must allow ASI to shift the artefacts to Mysore.