India, July 17 -- Slamming the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for turning heritage restoration into an "ego issue," the Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the civic agency time till July 17 to clear the garbage-strewn premises of the 700-year-old Gumti of Shaikh Ali in Defence Colony or face contempt proceedings.

The court's stern observations came after court commissioner Gopal Sankaranarayanan submitted a report documenting the poor upkeep of the site despite repeated directions. Photographs attached to the report showed strewn garbage, broken walls, and the absence of basic utilities like electricity, even as civic officials claimed that conservation work was underway.

"There appears to be a serious ego issue with the Corporation....