The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition filed by Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson, Tushar Gandhi, challenging the Gujarat High Court’s decision to uphold the ₹1,200 crore Sabarmati Ashram redevelopment project.
A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal declined to entertain the plea, effectively clearing the way for the project.
Gandhi had argued that the redevelopment would erase the simplicity of the Ashram and transform it into a state-controlled monument, detached from Gandhian values. He contended that the plan seeks to modernize the site with museums, amphitheaters, and food courts, altering its original character. Additionally, he raised concerns about the displacement of resident Harijan families and the sidelining of Gandhian trusts that have historically managed the site.
As part of his argument, Gandhi cited a 1933 letter written by Mahatma Gandhi to industrialist Ghanshyamdas Birla, in which he expressed his intention to dedicate the Ashram to the Harijan Sevak Sangh for the service of marginalized communities.
In 2022, the Gujarat High Court had dismissed Tushar Gandhi’s petition, stating that the government’s assurances were sufficient and that the project did not undermine the site’s legacy. The court also noted that no core Gandhian institutions had been dismantled and that no commercial activity was planned within the Ashram ground.
