The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of Tushar Gandhi, the great -grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. He appealed against the redevelopment project of Sabarmati Ashram. A bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal said that he would not hear the petition, as there has been a delay of more than two years in filing the petition. With this, the Supreme Court said that there are some things in which we cannot interfere.
In the appeal filed by Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat had challenged HC’s 2022 decision. HC upheld the Sabarmati Ashram redevelopment project. It was said in the petition that this project of ₹ 1200 crore would erase the simplicity of the ashram. And it will convert it into a state-controlled monument away from Gandhian values.
The petition also alleged that the project is a betrayal with Gandhian heritage. The state government’s approach is to change the topography of the original ashram. The state government wants to convert it into a modern campus with museums, amphitheater and food court, which has no place in Gandhian thoughts.
What is the whole matter?
Tushar Gandhi had filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court that the proposed Sabarmati Ashram redevelopment project would change the topography of the ashram. During that time, the court had said that during the redevelopment, the main ashram complex spread over five acres would not be touched.
The Gujarat High Court gave a decision in the year 2022 while hearing the petition of Tushar Gandhi. The petition was dismissed after the state government’s assurance that the proposed project would not affect the main area of Sabarmati Ashram. Two years later, Tusshar Gandhi filed a petition in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said that the order of the High Court cannot be challenged on the basis of apprehension. Apart from this, it also said that there is a delay of two years in this petition.