The Delhi High Court on Monday termed as “unfortunate” and “saddening” the treatment being meted out to Rajghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar said, “This is very saddening that the samadhi [memorial], which is considered as a temple, is being treated in such a way.” It pointed out that the trees planted by the dignitaries are “dead” now and even the original drawing of the samadhi was not there.
“We feel we could have done something for the Father of the Nation,” it said, adding: “It is really unfortunate.” It also observed that the authorities were not willing to do anything for restoration of the memorial.
The Bench was given an assurance by Additional Solicitor General Maninder Acharya, appearing for the Centre, that every step would be taken to restore the samadhi .
It also said that the expertise of professor K.T. Ravindran, former dean of the School of Planning and Architecture, would be utilised in the matter and the deficiencies pointed out would be rectified.
“We expect that every necessary step to restore the samadhi shall be taken,” the Bench said, and asked the Central Public Works Department to file a status report while listing the matter for further hearing on September 19.
The court was hearing a PIL that alleged that Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial was not being properly maintained.
