Parth Bajaj
On 10th May 2025, the Bombay High Court took up a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking protection and heritage status for Savarkar Sadan, the former residence of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, located in Dadar West, Mumbai.
The plea was filed after a newspaper report dated 5th May raised alarms about the building’s possible demolition, prompting immediate legal intervention.
The Division Bench, comprising Justice AS Chandurkar and Justice Neela Gokhale, responded swiftly by issuing a notice to the State Government and ordering status quo until further hearing. The Court has also directed the State to inform it about the timeframe within which it will decide on granting the property heritage status.
The PIL was filed by Abhinav Bharat Congress, a Hindu organisation, through its president Dr. Pankaj K. Phadnis. The petition urges the Maharashtra Government to act on a long-pending recommendation over 15 years old to include Savarkar Sadan in Mumbai’s official Heritage List. It also appeals to the Central Government to consider declaring the site a ‘Monument of National Importance’, even though it falls short of the 100-year age rule typically required for such recognition.
The plea emphasizes the historical value of the site, linking it to India’s freedom struggle and the legacy of a “key figure in the Hindu nationalist movement.” It criticizes the Government’s “apathy,” warning that this neglect makes the structure vulnerable to redevelopment. A contrast was drawn with Jinnah House, which enjoys heritage protection, while Savarkar Sadan remains unnotified despite its significance.
The PIL seeks multiple reliefs, including interim protection for the building, formal notification as a heritage site, a national-level roadmap for recognition, and compensation for Savarkar’s legal heirs if redevelopment is barred. Dr. Pankaj K. Phadnis personally argued the case, while Additional Government Pleader Abhay Patki, Assistant Government Pleader Manisha Gawade, Advocate Anuja Tirmali, and Advocate DP Singh represented various state and central authorities.
Case Name: Abhinav Bharat Congress v. The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
Case Number: Public Interest Litigation (L) NO.14792 OF 2025
Bench: Justice AS Chandurkar and Justice Neela Gokhale
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