India, Nov. 12 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the silence of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in protecting a Lodhi-era monument in Delhi's Defence Colony, with a report prepared by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) disclosing a series of inactions by the body and the neighbourhood's resident welfare association (RWA) which used the 15th century "Gumti of Shaikh Ali" as its office.

A bench headed by justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said, "It seems the ASI has gone against its own mandate to protect ancient monuments. How can you allow such a thing to happen to a 700-year-old Lodhi-era tomb?"

The court was hearing a petition filed by a Defence Colony resident Rajeev Suri seeking orders from the court to declare the st...