Gujarat HC junks plea against redevelopment of Sabarmati Ashram

Sabarmati: The Gujarat high court on Thursday dismissed the petition challenging the ₹1300 crore redevelopment plan of the Sabarmati Ashram of Mahatama Gandhi.

Tushar Gandhi, a great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, filed a petition challenging the state government’s resolution in March last year. The Govt had proposed that an executive council comprising government functionaries and trustees of the ashram would carry out the ashram revamp project.

Chief justice Aravind Kumar and chief justice A J Shastri said, “The proposed project will uphold the ideas and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi for the benefit of society and mankind at large.”
“It will also be a place for learning for mankind of all age groups,” added the bench while rejecting the plea.

The Gujarat High court in November last year had also rejected the same plea of Tushar Gandhi, who then went to the apex court. Later, the supreme court remanded the case back to the high court.

The division bench, in its ruling, said that the fears of the petitioner stand allayed following an affidavit filed by the state government which assured that the existing Gandhi Ashram, located in an area of five acres, will not be disturbed, altered, or changed.

The state government also said in its affidavit that all the five trusts functioning in the Sabarmati Ashram had given their in-principle support to the state government’s proposal.

Gujarat advocate general Kamal Trivedi told a newspaper, “The state government will take co-operation of all stakeholders for this project…The five-acre existing ashram will remain intact. and the governing council formed for the redevelopment has representation from all the trusts.”

DeshGujarat