Saddening to see state of Gandhi samadhi, says Delhi high court

New Delhi: The Delhi high court expressed unhappiness on Monday over the functioning of the authorities in restoring Rajghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and termed it “really unfortunate”.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar said it was “saddening” to see the treatment being meted out to the samadhi.

“This is very saddening that the samadhi, which is considered as a temple, is being treated in such a way,” it said.

The bench 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 that “it is really unfortunate”.

It also observed that in so many days, what has been transpired was 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 will 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, be utilised in the matter and the deficiencies pointed out 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 (CPWD) to file a status report while listing the matter for further hearing on September 19.     

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