New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- The Delhi High Court on Wednesday stressed that Tughlaqabad Fort is a monument of national importance, and that it must remain free of encroachment to preserve its historical heritage and ethos, as it constituted a seven-member committee to devise a comprehensive policy for removing unauthorised occupants and illegal structures in and around the fort area. A bench of chief justice DK Upadhyay and justice Tushar Rao Gedela said the committee, headed by the Union housing ministry's secretary, will first conduct a detailed survey before finalising its policy. Besides the ministry secretary, the panel includes the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Delhi government's housing secretary, the municipal commissioner, the DDA vice-chairman, the Delhi Police commissioner, and the divisional commissioner of the revenue department. The court was hearing a batch of petitions --one dating to 2001 -- seeking protection and preservation of the fort. Its order followed the ASI's demarcation report, which confirmed that while there were no encroachments inside the fort itself, illegal constructions had sprung up along and beyond its boundary wall. The report also noted ASI's repeated pleas of helplessness in removing long-term dwellers from economically weaker sections living in makeshift shelters. Considering the report, the court said, "The Tughlaqabad Fort is one such monument which is of national importance, ancient, and reflects our historical ethos and heritage and therefore needs to be preserved. These encroachments, illegal constructions, therefore will have to be removed not only to ensure that the mandate of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 is followed but also to ensure that our historical heritage and ethos are preserved for posterity." The court further directed the committee to explore rehabilitation schemes under the Delhi government....