PIL before Bombay High Court seeks heritage status for Savarkar Sadan amid demolition concerns

A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed before the Bombay High Court seeking protection and heritage status for Savarkar Sadan, the former residence of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in Mumbai's Dadar West.

The petition was filed following media reports suggesting that the building may be demolished.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice AS Chandurkar and Justice Neela Gokhale on Friday issued notice to the State and ordered status quo until the next hearing.

The Bench also instructed the State to inform the court about the time frame within which a decision on granting heritage status to the property would be taken.

The plea, filed by Abhinav Bharat Congress, a Hindu organisation through its head Dr. Pankaj K Phadnis, has urged the Maharashtra government to act on a long-pending recommendation to include the building in Mumbai’s official Heritage List. 

It has also called upon the Central government to consider declaring the site a ‘Monument of National Importance’, despite its current ineligibility under the 100-year age rule.

The petition was prompted by a May 5 report in a newspaper indicating that demolition of the structure was imminent. 

As per the plea, the site is associated with a “key figure in the Hindu nationalist movement” and the act would irreparably damage India’s freedom struggle legacy. 

The petitioner accused the Maharashtra government of sitting on the recommendation to give the site a heritage status for fifteen years and warns that this prolonged 'apathy' has left the building vulnerable to redevelopment or demolition. 

A contrast was drawn with Jinnah House—another colonial-era residence in Mumbai—which enjoys protected heritage status, while Savarkar Sadan remains unnotified despite its historical relevance.

Among the reliefs sought are immediate notification of Savarkar Sadan as a heritage site, interim protection to maintain status quo, a central roadmap to consider national monument status, and a policy to compensate Savarkar’s legal heirs if redevelopment restrictions are imposed.

Dr. Pankaj K. Phadnis appeared in-person.

Additional Government Pleader Abhay Patki, with Assistant Government Pleader Manisha Gawade appeared for the State and Commissioner of Police, Mumbai.

Advocate Anuja Tirmali instructed by advocate Komal Punjabi appeared for the Municipal Corporation.

Advocate DP Singh represented the Union of India.

[Read Order]