JAIPUR: Rajasthan High Court on Monday issued notices to the state government and JDA over the construction of the Gandhi Darshan Museum at the Central Park. The notices were returnable within three weeks.
The division bench issued notice on a PIL by Central Park Bachao Sangharsh Samiti. The petition stated that once the area has been allotted for green park, open space and recreational purposes, the utilization of land cannot be changed for any other purpose.
Despite several notices, the government went ahead with the construction of the Gandhi Darshan Museum and Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance and Social Sciences. The foundation stone for the same was laid on October 2 last year.
Gandhi Darshan Museum and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance and Social Sciences was announced by chief minister Ashok Gehlot in the 2021-2022 state budget. The JDA had taken possession of the Laxmi Vilas Hotel, Kanak Bhawan and a horse stable at Central Park, spreading across nearly 35,000 square metre following a Supreme Court order on May 3, 2017, on the ground that it is part of the Central Park.
The JDA has decided to develop a museum as it claims the land has been earmarked as commercial/recreation in master plan 2025. The petitioner also claimed that the government’s decision to construct the Gandhi Darshan Museum is a violation of the 2010 high court order which banned any kind of construction and land use change. Since the land has been acquired for the park, it cannot be utilised for any other purpose, claimed the petitioner Yogesh Yadav.
