In his petition, Dilbagh Singh, a resident of Jalandhar, had sought directions for declaring Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort at Phillaur a protected monument of national importance and for taking over its possession from the Punjab government for its upkeep.

In its reply, the Punjab government today submitted that it had no objection to the fort being declared a protected monument. The Government of India has also not objected to the same.

However, since the Police Training College in Jalandhar runs from the fort, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state government to make its stand clear.

For, in declaring the fort a national monument, the possession of the fort will have to be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).