The Gujarat High Court has rejected the PIL filed by the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, challenging the proposed redevelopment of Sabarmati Ashram.
A bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J. Shastri said the project would promote the philosophy of the Father of Nation, which would be beneficial for the society at large.
The bench believes that the Gandhi Ashram would be a place for learning for mankind of all age groups.
Submissions in the case were made by the Advocate General (AG) Kamal Trivedi with which the court based its order and said that the existing Gandhi Ashram would not be disturbed or be altered. The plea was disposed of then.
A question that kept the court boggling was whether the State government resolution for a comprehensive redevelopment of the Gandhi Ashram was liable to be quashed, when the top court bench has remitted the case for a detailed hearing in High Court.
The petition was earlier disposed by the Gujarat High Court taking into account the submission by the Gujarat government, which said the redevelopment would not disturb the tranquility of the ashram. The area for development was the 55 acre land that surrounded the ashram.
The AG had informed the High Court that the Sabarmati Ashram covers an area of 1 acre which would remain untouched, and the idea was to develop 55 acres of land surrounding the Ashram.
This decision was appealed before the Supreme Court claiming that the High Court had dismissed the plea on a “limited misleading statement made by the Advocate General without taking into account the grievances raised by the petitioner”.
When the case was heard in the Supreme Court bench of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant, they remitted the matter back to the High Court for a fresh decision to be taken after a detailed hearing.
Before rejecting the plea, the High Court heard the matter again and decided the same.