SC refers back to Gujarat HC Tushar Gandhi’s plea against Sabarmati Ashram redevelopment

Earlier, State had assured HC that project will ‘not touch’ 3 key attractions in one-acre area housing main ashram

The Supreme Court on Friday sent back to the Gujarat High Court a plea filed by Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson, challenging the “redevelopment” of the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. A Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud did not comment on the merits of the case.

The court allowed Mr. Gandhi and the Gujarat government to request the High Court to hear and dispose of the case expeditiously.

Mr. Gandhi had moved the top court challenging the Gujarat High Court’s decision, in November last year, to reject his plea on the basis of an assurance by the State government that the redevelopment would “not touch” three key attractions in the one-acre area housing the main ashram.

“The government has given an assurance that the existing ashram, which is in an area of one acre, will not be disturbed, and it will be maintained as it is. Thus, all the fears and apprehensions of the petitioner stand allayed in the government’s order,” the High Court had said.

The ₹1,200-crore Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project has been jointly undertaken by the State and the Central government for developing the ashram, where Mahatma Gandhi lived from 1917 to 1930.

The project envisions development over an area of 55 acres from the existing five acres by bringing together heritage buildings and restoring the surroundings.