Delhi High Court stays auction of the Mahatma's glasses, sandals
High Court stays auction of the Mahatma's glasses, sandals
Gandhians may finally heave a sigh of relief. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday put an interim stay on the auction of Mahatma Gandhi's belongings that was planned to take place in New York on Thursday.
The stay came after the Ahmedabad-based Navjivan Trust approached the court to stop the auction in a last-ditch effort.
The trust, that was created by the Mahatma in 1929, had left no stone unturned to stop Gandhi's five prized articles, including his iconic round glasses and sandals, from going under the hammer at the auction.
The court issued a notice to the auction house, US-based Antiquorum Auctioneers, to which it has to respond by May 6.
Assistant solicitor general of Navjivan Trust Mohan Parasaran said these articles could not be sold as they belonged to India and were illegally taken away from the country. On behalf of the trust, Parasaran submitted that a similar stay was also given by the Madras High Court in 1996 to stop the auction of Gandhi's handwritten material by a British firm.
There has been an uproar in the county against the auction of what are considered by many to be a part of our national heritage.
| Heritage under hammer |
1. Zenith model watch
2. Sandals
3. A bowl/plate
4. Glasses |
