HC hears PIL on access to Gandhi memorial

The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner to decide on the representation seeking access to the Gandhi memorial inside the Hotel Lalit Ashok premises.

The High Court has set a deadline of 12 weeks to resolve the issue.

The Public Interest Litigation, filed by the city-based NGO, Samarpana, was disposed of by the division bench comprising acting Chief Justice L Narayanaswamy and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar after directing the police commissioner.

The petitioners stated that Mahatma Gandhi, during his visit to Bangalore in 1927, had conducted a public meeting in the area which is today known as the Kumara Krupa Road, Kumara Park East.

A memorial was built at the same place thereafter. There is indeed a tree - the 'Jyothi Vriksha' - where the Mahatma held a prayer meeting. However, the petitioners had alleged that as the place is currently within the premises of the Ashoka Hotel, there is a restriction on the public visit and sought the court's intervention.