Rajghat maintenance: Delhi High Court pulls up panel

Holding Rajghat akin to a place of worship, the Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned whether it can be kept in an “unhygienic” and “deplorable” manner.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar expressed displeasure on the conduct of Rajghat Samadhi Committee (RSC) constituted for the maintenance, preservation and administration, over its failure to perform its statutory functions.

“We find the Rajghat Samadhi is thus akin to a place of worship. We have wondered as to whether places of worship can be treated in such an unhealthy and an unhygienic condition,” the bench said while referring to a 2012 verdict of the high court.

It directed the committee to ensure maintenance of the memorial in order to show reverence to the Father of the Nation.  The bench expressed displeasure after it went through the report submitted by advocate Satyakam, assigned by the court to inspect the site and give a report in this regard.

“The sapling planted by the VVIPs and dignitaries, including the head of states and national and international leaders are also not maintained. There are filthy toilets, unhygienic canteen and no taps for water. Even the Samadhi is not maintained,” it said, adding that there is no proper facility for disabled people who visit the memorial.

The court also remarked that despite the drawbacks, the committee had argued vociferously that everything was in place and they were maintaining the area regularly. The bench also roped in the Agha Khan Foundation to look into the Samadhi as it was into the restoration of several historical sites of national importance. 

It asked the foundation and disability activists to be present in the court on the next hearing on February 19.

The court’s order comes while hearing a PIL that alleged that Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial was not being properly maintained.