Relook at plea against Sabarmati Ashram revamp plan: SC to HC

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Gujarat high court to hear afresh the plea filed by Mahatma Gandhi’s greatgrandson Tushar Gandhi against the state government’s plan to redevelop Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. Gandhi had alleged that the plan will corrupt the pristine simplicity of the Ashram.

On November 25, 2021, the high court dismissed Gandhi’s petition after the state government assured that it would not touch the three key attractions in the core one-acre area of Ashram and that the redevelopment would take place in the 55 acrearea surrounding it. The three major attractions at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad are the Gandhi Ashram, the museum inside and Magan Niwas.

Later, Gandhi challenged the order in the Supreme Court.

Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, representing Gandhi in the top court, said the HC order suffered an error as it did not even hear the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust (SAPMT) — a crucial stakeholder in the project.

“Our intention is not to hold up the project but I request that the trustees should be heard as they have a mandate to preserve the memory of the Mahatma and Gandhian ethos,” Jaising said, seeking a stay on the high court order and an expeditious hearing by the high court.

The Gujarat government was represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who termed the apprehensions of the petitioner “unfounded”.

He, however, agreed to join the petitioners in seeking expeditious tiral and told the court that the SAPMT is a crucial stakeholder in the redevelopment plan.

After hearing the parties concerned, a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant, said: “We are of the considered view that it would be appropriate for the High Court to decide upon the issues which are raised in the petition after furnishing to the state of Gujarat an opportunity of filing a comprehensive affidavit...”