Supreme Court Scheduled to Hear Tushar Gandhi’s Petition Regarding the Renovation of Sabarmati Ashram on April 1.
(Judicial Quest News Network)
In a case that has captured national attention, the Supreme Court is set to hear the plea of Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, challenging the Gujarat government’s ambitious renovation plans for the iconic Sabarmati Ashram. The hearing is scheduled for April 1, 2025, before a bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundaresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal.
Tushar Gandhi has raised concerns that the renovation project, which includes plans to transform the Ashram into a thematic park, fundamentally contradicts the spirit and ethos of Gandhian simplicity. The Ashram, established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917, is more than just a historical site; it is a symbol of India’s struggle for freedom and the values of non-violence, simplicity, and self-reliance.
The petition challenges a September 8, 2022, decision by the Gujarat High Court, which had rejected Gandhi’s plea against the state government’s plans. His legal team, led by advocates Kaleeswaram Raj, Nishe. Rajen Shonkar, and Thulasi K Raj, argues that the project threatens the cultural and historical integrity of the Ashram, which is protected under constitutional provisions.
Specifically, the petition cites Article 39 of the Constitution, which emphasizes the prevention of the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few, and Article 49, which mandates the protection of monuments and places of national importance. The plea asserts that transforming the Ashram into a theme park would be a “mockery of Gandhi’s teachings,” undermining its significance as a sacred site tied to India’s national memory.
Tushar Gandhi contends that the Ashram, as an ancient monument founded over a century ago, falls under the protection of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. The affidavit filed in the High Court also claimed that the project would not alter the Ashram’s topography or its Gandhian ethos, a statement that has been met with scepticism by conservationists and historians.
The case has sparked a broader debate about the balance between heritage preservation and development. Critics argue that while modernization can be beneficial, it should not come at the cost of erasing or commercializing spaces of profound historical and spiritual importance.
As the Supreme Court prepares to deliberate on this sensitive matter, the nation watches closely, aware that the verdict could set a precedent for how India protects its historical monuments in the face of modern development pressures.
The Sabarmati Ashram, established by Mahatma Gandhi, is at the centre of a Special Leave Petition filed by his great-grandson, Tushar Gandhi. This petition expresses concerns about the government’s acquisition of the Ashram under the guise of development, which contradicts the fundamental principles of Gandhism.
Mahatma Gandhi personally designed the Ashram to reflect ideals of simplicity, self-sufficiency, and communal living. It serves as a model of Gandhian values, emphasizing sustainability and a harmonious relationship with nature.
The Ashram is a significant symbol of Gandhi’s legacy and his crucial contributions to India’s independence movement.
Furthermore, the proposed transformation of the Ashram into a theme park through substantial investments undermines the teachings of Gandhi and violates Article 39 of the Constitution, which aims to prevent wealth accumulation, as well as Article 49, which focuses on the protection of monuments and sites of national significance.
The Ashram was founded in 1917, and on February 2, 1926, Gandhi and Maganlal Khushalchand established the Satyagraha Ashram Trust. On September 30, 1933, Gandhi entrusted the Ashram to the Harijan Sevak Sangh for the perpetual benefit of Harijans.
The nation mourned the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948. The Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Deed of Declaration of Trust was enacted on April 15, 1949.
While the Ashram has remained a beacon of Gandhism, in 2019, the Government of Gujarat announced plans to redesign and redevelop it into a “world-class museum.” Subsequently, on March 5, 2021, the government issued a resolution for the comprehensive development of the Gandhi Ashram.
The SLP represented by Advocate Kaleeswaram Raj, Nishe Rajan Shonker, and Thulasi K. Raj
