The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a petition filed by Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, challenging the redevelopment project of the historic Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. The bench, comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal, cited a significant delay in the filing of the petition, which exceeded two years, as a key reason for their decision.
Tushar Gandhi had approached the apex court following a decision by the Gujarat High Court in 2022, which had dismissed his concerns about the redevelopment project altering the ashram’s topography. According to Gandhi’s plea, the project involved preserving over 40 existing structures while proposing the demolition or reconstruction of approximately 200 others.
The Supreme Court, in its ruling, stated that the apprehensions about the redevelopment affecting the core area of the ashram, which the Gujarat government had committed to preserving, did not constitute sufficient grounds to overturn the high court’s decision. The Gujarat government, represented by Advocate General Kamal Trivedi, reassured the high court that the main premises of the ashram, spanning five acres, would remain untouched by the redevelopment efforts.
Tushar Gandhi had initially filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) advocating for the redevelopment project to be conducted under the supervision of the National Gandhi Smarak Nidhi (NGSN), a body dedicated to preserving Gandhi’s memory and legacy. Sabarmati Ashram, established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917, stands as a significant historical site, representing a pivotal chapter in India’s struggle for independence.
