New Delhi, 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 body 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 sharp remarks came after court commissioner Gopal Sankaranarayanan submitted a report flagging continued neglect despite prior orders. Photographs showed broken walls, scattered garbage, and a lack of basic utilities like electricity-even as MCD officials claimed that conservation was underway. "There appears to be a serious ego issue with the Corporation. When we thought things are coming back on track, you have abandoned this place like a child thrown into the dustbin," a bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah observed. Built during the Lodi era, the monument was declared "protected" by the Delhi government's archaeology department last month, following nearly 60 years of illegal occupation by the local RWA and the presence of an MCD office and parking area. Possession was returned to the Union government's Land and Building department in May following a court order. Although the court had directed the MCD and archaeology department to clear the site on May 14 and 16, Sankaranarayanan told the bench that MCD had failed to respond to his communications. "This inaction amounts to clear obstruction in the path of administration of justice," the bench said, adding the agency had acted "with a grudge and a heavy heart." The court also took issue with the Delhi government's gazette notification, objecting to the phrase "as directed by the court." "Did we direct you? We only facilitated you," the bench said. Delhi government counsel Subranshu Padhi said a revised notification would be filed by July 23. The court directed officials to prepare a beautification plan in consultation with the court commissioner and allowed a site inspection before the next hearing....