In a landmark judgment, the Orissa High Court has ruled that only photographers holding valid licenses issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will be allowed to operate within the premises of the iconic 13th-century Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha. This decision upholds a previous verdict by a single-judge bench issued on January 5, 2022.
The matter first came to light when 10 ASI-approved photographers filed a petition in 2022, highlighting that unauthorized photography at the Sun Temple was negatively impacting their livelihoods. The single-judge bench had ruled in their favor, restricting photography within the temple premises to ASI-licensed photographers only.
Subsequently, the verdict faced opposition from a group of 154 photographers who did not possess ASI licenses. These photographers argued that the restriction would deprive them of their primary source of income. The ASI mandates a minimum qualification of Matriculation for obtaining a license, which the petitioners did not meet. They appealed to the High Court, requesting a one-time exception to this requirement.
The Archaeological Survey of India submitted an affidavit stating that granting a one-time exception would compromise its uniform policy for regulating photographers at protected monuments across the country. The ASI emphasized that the Matriculation criterion was a necessary standard to ensure professionalism and maintain the integrity of the policy.
After considering the arguments, the division bench, comprising Chief Justice Chakradhar Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho, upheld the single-judge bench’s verdict. The court ruled that only ASI-approved photographers would be allowed entry to the Sun Temple, apart from tourists. This judgment reinforces the ASI’s authority in regulating activities within protected heritage sites.
The ruling directly impacts unauthorized photographers, many of whom relied on tourism for their livelihood. While the ASI’s licensing criteria aim to uphold quality and regulate professional standards, the decision has sparked concerns about the economic hardships faced by unlicensed photographers.
The Sun Temple in Konark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a major tourist attraction in Odisha. The judgment ensures the preservation of the temple’s sanctity and aligns with ASI’s efforts to maintain uniform policies across all protected monuments in India. It also highlights the importance of regulating commercial activities within heritage sites to balance economic interests and conservation efforts. This verdict serves as a precedent for other cases involving unregulated commercial activities at ASI-protected monuments nationwide.
In a landmark judgment, the Orissa High Court has ruled that only photographers holding valid licenses issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will be allowed to operate within the premises of the iconic 13th-century Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha. This decision upholds a previous verdict by a single-judge bench issued on January 5, 2022.
The matter first came to light when 10 ASI-approved photographers filed a petition in 2022, highlighting that unauthorized photography at the Sun Temple was negatively impacting their livelihoods. The single-judge bench had ruled in their favor, restricting photography within the temple premises to ASI-licensed photographers only.
Subsequently, the verdict faced opposition from a group of 154 photographers who did not possess ASI licenses. These photographers argued that the restriction would deprive them of their primary source of income. The ASI mandates a minimum qualification of Matriculation for obtaining a license, which the petitioners did not meet. They appealed to the High Court, requesting a one-time exception to this requirement.
The Archaeological Survey of India submitted an affidavit stating that granting a one-time exception would compromise its uniform policy for regulating photographers at protected monuments across the country. The ASI emphasized that the Matriculation criterion was a necessary standard to ensure professionalism and maintain the integrity of the policy.
After considering the arguments, the division bench, comprising Chief Justice Chakradhar Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho, upheld the single-judge bench’s verdict. The court ruled that only ASI-approved photographers would be allowed entry to the Sun Temple, apart from tourists. This judgment reinforces the ASI’s authority in regulating activities within protected heritage sites.
The ruling directly impacts unauthorized photographers, many of whom relied on tourism for their livelihood. While the ASI’s licensing criteria aim to uphold quality and regulate professional standards, the decision has sparked concerns about the economic hardships faced by unlicensed photographers.
The Sun Temple in Konark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a major tourist attraction in Odisha. The judgment ensures the preservation of the temple’s sanctity and aligns with ASI’s efforts to maintain uniform policies across all protected monuments in India. It also highlights the importance of regulating commercial activities within heritage sites to balance economic interests and conservation efforts. This verdict serves as a precedent for other cases involving unregulated commercial activities at ASI-protected monuments nationwide.
