Supreme Court rejects plea against Sabarmati Ashram redevelopment project

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to consider a plea by Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson Tushar Gandhi challenging a decision by the state government to redevelop the Sabarmati Ashram and adjoining areas in Ahmedabad at the estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore.

A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal dismissed the petition against the Gujarat High Court's order which declined to consider the plea in the matter.

The state government had claimed that that the existing Ashram would not be disturbed, altered or changed.

Dismissing the plea in September 2022, the High Court felt that the proposed project would promote the ideas and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, and it would be beneficial for mankind at large and that the revamped Gandhi Aashram would be a place for learning for mankind of all age groups.

The plea claimed the decision to redesign and redevelop the Ashram to make it into a "world class museum" and "tourist destination" was diametrically opposed to Mahatma Gandhi's personal wishes, as per his written instruction of September 30, 1933.

It also said that the project will change the physical structure of Sabarmati Ashram and corrupt its pristine simplicity which embodied the ideology of Gandhiji. The ashram may lose the Gandhian ethos with the execution of the project, it said.

The state government said that the area comprising Mahatma Gandhi's Ashram was only five acres but the real ashram land was of 300 acres. It said that the five acre land was not to be touched but only the two-third buildings that were dilapidated required reconstruction.

The petitioner had contended the redevelopment work should be in the domain of the trusts, including of National Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust, Khadi Gramodyog Prayog Samiti, Harijan Ashram Trust, Sabarmati Ashram Goshala Trust, Harijan Sevak Sangh and their response in the matter was to be taken on record.