The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to clarify its position on granting heritage status to Savarkar Sadan, the former residence of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, located in Dadar’s Shivaji Park area.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne questioned the state’s inaction despite an earlier recommendation from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) to classify the structure as a Grade II heritage site. Acting on that recommendation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had already written to the state government seeking formal heritage designation.
However, during Tuesday’s proceedings, the state pleader informed the court that a fresh recommendation from MHCC would be required. This prompted the bench to seek an explanation: “What was the problem with the earlier recommendation? MHCC recommended, so BMC wrote to you to declare it as a Grade II Heritage structure.”
The court has directed both the Maharashtra government and the BMC to file their affidavits and posted the matter for further hearing on August 6.
The directions came while hearing a public interest litigation filed by the Abhinav Bharat Congress, a Hindu organization led by Pankaj K. Phadnis. The petition seeks the inclusion of Savarkar Sadan in Mumbai’s official Heritage List, pointing out that a recommendation to this effect was made as early as 2012 but remained unimplemented for over a decade.
The PIL also urged the Central government to consider declaring Savarkar Sadan a “Monument of National Importance.” However, the plea acknowledges that the building does not currently meet the 100-year age threshold required under central heritage laws.
Highlighting perceived inconsistencies in heritage recognition, the petitioner compared the case to that of Jinnah House in Malabar Hill, which enjoys protected heritage status, questioning why similar treatment was not accorded to Savarkar Sadan.
The court’s directive now places the onus on the state government to clarify its stance on a matter that blends heritage conservation with historical and ideological significance.
