It cannot be permitted to die: Allahabad High Court directs opening of Chandra Shekhar Azad Park gate for entry to Allahabad Museum

The Allahabad High Court has directed for the opening of a gate in the city's Chandra Shekhar Azad Park to enable entry of visitors into the Allahabad Museum located in the park (Madhu Singh v. State of UP)..The Court modified its own order passed in 2014 by which it had restricted entry of visitors/vehicles into the park and directed closure of its gates..A Bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery passed the order after taking note of a letter written by the former Chairman of the Allahabad Museum Society. The former Chairman had pointed out that the closure of the entry was denying senior citizens and the other persons who have difficulty in walking the opportunity to visit the Museum..The letter thus requested the Court to allow the entry of vehicles/visitors into the park as the Museum's footfall had considerably reduced. Taking note of the concerns raised by the former Chairman, the order states,"The footfall of visitors has been materially reduced due to non-availability of the gate that was earlier opened close to the museum. On verifying, it is brought to our notice that the national museum is having footfall of not more than 30 to 40 persons per day which is otherwise required to be not less than three to four hundred persons per day.".In its order, the Court discussed the artefacts housed within the Museum and noted,"Allahabad Museum is not simply a repository of material culture. Rather it is a centre for education and dissemination of knowledge. The Museum has endeavored to engage with the public on enhancing better visitor experience and offering opportunity to scholars through colloquium, symposia, lectures for dialogue and research in the field of art, archaeology, culture and history.".While maintaining that the restriction of entry into Chandra Shekhar Azad Park (also known as Company Bagh) was effected so as to maintain the park, the Court stated,"Our anxiety is only that while enriching, protecting and preserving Chandra Shekhar Azad Park (Company Bagh), it is also important to ensure complete use and promotion of national museum. Nonavailability of a gate closed is getting the museum off from good number of visitors. Museum, the national repute as such, cannot be permitted to die merely on the count that it is not having adequate opening.".Accordingly, considering the facts indicated by the letter and importance of the Museum, the Court held,"Having considered the same, we deem it appropriate to modify earlier orders passed by this Court to the extent that an opening shall be allowed for entry to the national museum as that was earlier available from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm."The Court also asked the authorities to consider having a parking space close to the entry point..[Read order]