Gujarat HC rejects Tushar Gandhis plea against Gandhi Ashram revamp plan
Ahmedabad Nov 25 PTI The Gujarat High Court on Thursday rejected a plea filed by Mahatma Gandhis great-grandson Tushar Gandhi against Sabarmati Ashram redevelopment project after the state government assured that it will not touch three key attractions situated in the one-acre area The division bench of Chief Justice Arvind Kumar and Justice A J Shastri disposed of the public interest litigation PIL in the very first hearing after Advocate General Kamal Trivedi assured that the redevelopment would take place only in the 55 acre area surrounding the main ashram which is spread across one acre The government has given an assurance that the existing Ashram which is in an area of one acre would not be disturbed and it will be maintained as it is Thus all the fears and apprehensions of the petitioner stand allayed in the governments order Chief Justice Kumar said while rejecting the PIL This petition is not required to be entertained In light of the submissions made by the government we are disposing it off he said In his submission Trivedi on behalf of the government informed the bench that three major attractions inside the main premises – Gandhi Ashram the museum inside it and Magan Niwas – will not be touched It is claimed that we are building an amusement park in the Gandhi Ashram We are not doing anything like that People had similar reservation when Statue of Unity or Sabarmati Riverfront came up the Advocate General said in his opening remarks People come to see three things – Gandhi Ashram the museum inside it and Magan Niwas a place where Gandhijis disciple used to live These three places cover an area of one acre We are not going to touch it We are going to develop 55 acres of land surrounding this particular place Trivedi submitted He further informed the bench that the government intends to restore 46 old and dilapidated houses near the Ashram which was established on the banks of Sabarmati river here by Mahatma Gandhi over 100 years ago We are going to restore them We will build a pavement with lot of greenery I can put the entire blue print in two weeks We are not creating any amusement park Whatever we will do will be in accordance with Gandhian philosophy and ethos the Advocate General said Senior advocate Bhushan Oza appearing for Tushar Gandhi raised his contention stating the Ashram premises is a historical monument which needs to be preserved and protected and redevelopment will change the character of the entire ashram which is there with historical importance Not convinced the Chief Justice said They government are saying they will not touch the Ashram What else you want When Oza citing newspaper reports raised the issue of a recent development wherein bulldozers have come and bulldozed the houses which were there for thirty years near the Ashram the Chief Justice asked him to file a civil suit because other issues cannot be part of the PIL Tushar Gandhi the grandson of Mahatma Gandhis third son Mani Lal had filed the plea in October challenging the state governments Rs 1200-crore Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project saying it goes against the wishes and philosophy of the Father of the Nation The PIL had sought that the state should not be allowed to interfere as the constitution of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi says Bapus Ashram and memorials should be kept away from government and political influences The project envisages developing the Ashram the way it existed during Mahatma Gandhis time when it was spread over 35 to 40 acres with 63 heritage properties 48 of which are still standing The sprawling premises also called the Gandhi Ashram served as Gandhijis residence for several years from where he carried out major political and social activities during the freedom movement PTI PJT PD ARU ARU
Ahmedabad Nov 25 PTI The Gujarat High Court on Thursday rejected a plea filed by Mahatma Gandhis great-grandson Tushar Gandhi against Sabarmati Ashram redevelopment project after the state government assured that it will not touch three key attractions situated in the one-acre area The division bench of Chief Justice Arvind Kumar and Justice A J Shastri disposed of the public interest litigation PIL in the very first hearing after Advocate General Kamal Trivedi assured that the redevelopment would take place only in the 55 acre area surrounding the main ashram which is spread across one acre The government has given an assurance that the existing Ashram which is in an area of one acre would not be disturbed and it will be maintained as it is Thus all the fears and apprehensions of the petitioner stand allayed in the governments order Chief Justice Kumar said while rejecting the PIL This petition is not required to be entertained In light of the submissions made by the government we are disposing it off he said In his submission Trivedi on behalf of the government informed the bench that three major attractions inside the main premises – Gandhi Ashram the museum inside it and Magan Niwas – will not be touched It is claimed that we are building an amusement park in the Gandhi Ashram We are not doing anything like that People had similar reservation when Statue of Unity or Sabarmati Riverfront came up the Advocate General said in his opening remarks People come to see three things – Gandhi Ashram the museum inside it and Magan Niwas a place where Gandhijis disciple used to live These three places cover an area of one acre We are not going to touch it We are going to develop 55 acres of land surrounding this particular place Trivedi submitted He further informed the bench that the government intends to restore 46 old and dilapidated houses near the Ashram which was established on the banks of Sabarmati river here by Mahatma Gandhi over 100 years ago We are going to restore them We will build a pavement with lot of greenery I can put the entire blue print in two weeks We are not creating any amusement park Whatever we will do will be in accordance with Gandhian philosophy and ethos the Advocate General said Senior advocate Bhushan Oza appearing for Tushar Gandhi raised his contention stating the Ashram premises is a historical monument which needs to be preserved and protected and redevelopment will change the character of the entire ashram which is there with historical importance Not convinced the Chief Justice said They government are saying they will not touch the Ashram What else you want When Oza citing newspaper reports raised the issue of a recent development wherein bulldozers have come and bulldozed the houses which were there for thirty years near the Ashram the Chief Justice asked him to file a civil suit because other issues cannot be part of the PIL Tushar Gandhi the grandson of Mahatma Gandhis third son Mani Lal had filed the plea in October challenging the state governments Rs 1200-crore Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project saying it goes against the wishes and philosophy of the Father of the Nation The PIL had sought that the state should not be allowed to interfere as the constitution of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi says Bapus Ashram and memorials should be kept away from government and political influences The project envisages developing the Ashram the way it existed during Mahatma Gandhis time when it was spread over 35 to 40 acres with 63 heritage properties 48 of which are still standing The sprawling premises also called the Gandhi Ashram served as Gandhijis residence for several years from where he carried out major political and social activities during the freedom movement PTI PJT PD ARU ARU
