The Uttarakhand High Court has granted permission to the Nainital district administration to relocate the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Govind Ballabh Pant from their long-standing positions in the hill town’s prominent public spaces, citing the need to decongest the area and improve pedestrian movement.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Kumar Verma, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), observed that the relocation was necessary for better traffic management and to address chronic congestion issues in the popular tourist destination.
The court directed that both statues be reinstalled at designated locations 15 metres away from their original sites, with a clear timeline of four months for completion. The district magistrate has also been authorised to undertake necessary repairs and preservation work during the process.
The PIL, which challenged the administration’s move, alleged misuse of public funds under the pretext of a beautification drive in Nainital. However, the court rejected these contentions, holding that the relocation aligned with broader civic objectives and did not detract from the respect accorded to the national icons.
In line with the court’s order, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi has already been removed from its current site. The original locations — Gandhi Chowk and Pant Park — have long held symbolic and civic importance in the town, having been named after the two revered leaders.
