August 4, 2018

"Pained by the apathy" of officials towards the upkeep of Rajghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the Delhi High Court yesterday said it was struggling to make the authorities do their duty.

A division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal & Justice C Hari Shankar said "It's painful to see such apathy on the part of the officials tasked to deal with the issue of maintaining Rajghat, a memorial to the Father of the Nation," .

Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal dismayed by the attitude of authorities said "Don't you feel proud that you have opportunity to do something in relation to the Father of the Nation. You've not only been given opportunity to do something for your city, but for your Nation."

The High Court also termed as "serious" & unfathomable that the authorities were unable to produce the extremely imporatant documents like original drawings & plan of the Rajghat samadhi.

"We're unable to fathom how they aren't available," the bench said & directed the secretary, Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) to draw up an inventory of the important buildings in the National Capital & ensure the availability of the original drawings and plans of such significant structures.

The Court said necessary directions should be issued by the Secretary, MoUD, to ensure that the drawings & plans were collected & preserved on an urgent basis.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on 6th August.

The HC was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which alleged that Gandhi's memorial wasn't being properly maintained.

Petitioner Shyam Narayan Chouksey claimed that the memorial "was not at all being properly & cleanly maintained" and despite being brought to the notice of the Rajghat committee and MoUD, there was no change in the situation.

Along with his petition, Petitioner submitted photos showing alleged deficiencies he came across during his visit to the monument in 2014 & then again in 2015 & 2016.

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