Sabarmati Ashram will remain untouched; only surrounding land will be modified: Gujarat govt tells Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday disposed of a petition filed by Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, challenging the proposed redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram (Tushar Arun Gandhi v. State of Gujarat)..A Bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J Shastri reasoned that the government order challenged by the petitioner indicated that the redevelopment wished to preserve the history of Mahatma Gandhi and the freedom struggle. Pertinently, the Court also took into account the submission of the Gujarat government that the proposed redevelopment would not disturb the ashram but will only redevelop the 55 acres of land surrounding the ashram.The Court, therefore, disposed of the plea stating that the apprehensions of the petitioner were allayed by the government order under challenge itself..Tushar Gandhi had challenged the order notifying the redevelopment on two counts. Firstly, that the ashram is a historical monument which needs to be preserved, protected and maintained without a change in its character which has historical importance.The second ground taken was that "windows and doors should be open while taking such a decision." It was submitted that the institution was based on Gandhian values and those who are associated with these values should be a part of the decision-making process..However, at the very outset of the hearing, Advocate General Kamal Trivedi informed the Bench that the Sabarmati Ashram covers an area of 1 acre which will remain untouched. He explained that the idea was to develop 55 acres of land surrounding the Ashram, where pavements would be laid down amid a lot of greenery..After hearing the submissions, the Division Bench was of the opinion that since the authorities had specified that neither the Ashram nor its importance would be jeopardised, and in fact, wished to enhance the same, the petitioner’s apprehension was assuaged.“It would not only be a source of inspiration to one and all across the globe but it would also be a tourist destination which in the process would gain both name and fame at the national and international level,” the Court observed..Further, in response to the petitioner’s concern that decisions taken by the governing council envisaged by the Gujarat government would be unilateral, the Court clarified that since a representative of the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust was included by the State itself, the Ashram’s interests would be espoused..Therefore, the matter was disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to approach the appropriate forum in case of any other individual grievances.