SC remands back to Guj HC plea against Sabarmati Ashram redevelopment project

The Supreme Court on Friday remanded back to Gujarat High Court a plea filed by Mahatma Gandhis greatgrandson Tushar Gandhi against the state governments decision to redevelop the Sabarmati Ashram project in Ahmedabad for fresh considerationGandhi challenged the High Courts November 25 2021 order dismissing his petition in this regardA bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant which set aside the order of the High Court said The High Court has not called for a comprehensive affidavit from the state of Gujarat before disposing of the writ petition filed by GandhiIt said We are of the considered view that it would be appropriate for the High Court to decide upon the issues which are raised in the petition after furnishing to the state of Gujarat an opportunity of filing a comprehensive affidavit dealing with various facets of the matterIt said The High Court having disposed of the matter summarily without calling for a report from the state of Gujarat we are of the view prima facie that the matter be required to be restored to the High CourtIt noted that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Gujarat government has fairly submitted that the matter should be restored to the High Court to follow the said course of actionFor the above reason we allow the appeal without requiring to go into the merit of the issues which were raised before the High Court and set aside the impugned order of November 25 2021 for that purpose the bench saidThe top court also clarified that it has not entered into the merit of the issues which are sought to be raised by the petitioner or the correctness of such aspects of the matter which the state of Gujarat or which other respondents may wish to place before the High CourtWe are leaving to the High Court to take the fresh view after hearing the parties and allowing pleadings to be completed All the rights and contentions of the parties are kept open Both the petitioner and the Solicitor General have joined in to request the court for expeditious hearing it saidOn March 25 the top court had agreed to hear a plea filed by Gandhi challenging the Gujarat High Courts orderSenior advocate Indira Jaising appearing for Gandhi had said that they have challenged the resolution of the Gujarat government and the Gujarat Tourism Corporation is undertaking a project for the redevelopment of Sabarmati AshramGandhi has moved to the top court challenging the High Court order rejecting his plea against the Sabarmati Ashram redevelopment project after the state government assured that it will not touch three key attractions in the oneacre area housing the main ashramThe government has given an assurance that the existing Ashram which is in an area of one acre will not be disturbed and it will be maintained as it is Thus all the fears and apprehensions of the petitioner stand allayed in the governments order the high court had saidThe Rs 1200 crore Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project has been jointly undertaken by the state and the central government for developing the ashram where Mahatma Gandhi lived from 1917 to 1930The project would be developed over an area of 55 acres from the existing five acres by bringing together heritage buildings and restoring the surroundingsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever