Orders status quo amid concerns over demolition
The Bombay High Court on Friday sought to know from the Urban Development Department (UDD) of Maharashtra government by when the heritage status will be granted to the residence of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, Savarkar Sadan, situated at Shivaji Park area of Central Mumbai.
The court passed an order while hearing a PIL by a public charitable trust called Abhinav Bharat Congress, seeking heritage status for the premises and a directive to declare the building 'monument of national importance' and formulate special compensation policy for its inhabitants.
The court issued notices to respondent authorities seeking their response to the PIL during next hearing on June 13 and ordered that till the said date the status of the property shall not be changed.
A division bench of Justices Atul S Chandurkar and Neela K Gokhale was hearing the PIL by the Trust filed through its co-founder and authorised representative, Professor Pankaj Phadnis, who resides in the building, seeking directive to the state UDD to issue a notification so as to include the 'Savarkar Sadan' property in the heritage list in terms of final recommendation of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to Principal Secretary UDD through letter dated August 30, 2010.
The petitioner contended that the Municipal Architect (Development Plan) of the BMC on January 20, 2012, too, had written to the UDD to make such a recommendation for heritage status to the said property.
The petitioner claimed that after an inaction of more than ten years, the Chief Minister's Office on February 1, 2025 forwarded to UDD an email sent by the petitioner raising grievances, requiring the steps to be taken and enquiries to be made in the matter.
The PIL alleged 'apathy' by the state government of 'sitting on recommendation to give the site a heritage status for fifteen years' and apprehended that the same has left the building vulnerable to demolition or redevelopment. It said that while Jinnah House is granted heritage status, Savarkar Sadan has remained unnotified despite having historical relevance.
Phadnis, citing a news report of earlier this month, apprehended that prior to such heritage status being bestowed to the said property, it is likely to be demolished.
After hearing the petitioner, the bench issued notices to respondents UDD, BMC, Mumbai Police and Union Ministry of Culture seeking their responses during the next hearing.
'Instructions be obtained from the first respondent (UDD) as regards the time within which the grant of heritage status to the aforesaid premises would be undertaken. Till the returnable date, the status of the said property shall not be changed and the position as prevailing today shall be maintained,' the bench noted in the order.
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