The Bombay High Court today took on record a report submitted by an architect appointed by it to inspect Ambedkar Bhavan in Dadar to ascertain the extent of damage caused to the building and printing press run by Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar.
The report, submitted by architect Shashi Prabhu on August 5, was perused by Justice S J Kathawala in the court today.
On a plea made by People’s improvement Trust, which runs Ambedkar Bhavan, and Prakash Ambedkar, the judge ordered that copies of the reports may also be furnished to them.
The bench adjourned the matter to August 18 and until then it restrained all the parties concerned from entering the Ambedkar Bhavan premises.
A substantial portion of the structure was demolished recently by People’s Improvement Trust after it was served a notice by Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) that the building was in a dilapidated and dangerous condition.
Prabhu was also asked to submit a report on the inventory lying at the ‘Budh Bhushan’ printing press.
According to Prakash Ambedkar, periodicals and some magazines were being printed at the press. His counsel said Ambedkar wanted to visit the premises to ascertain the damage caused to the press, if any.
However, the court appointed an architect to inspect the premises and submit a report.
During an earlier hearing, the high court had asked the People’s Improvement Trust and Prakash Ambedkar to redevelop the property jointly.
However, Ambedkar’s counsel said he was not agreeable to the suggestion of the high court.
The counsel said Prakash Ambedkar is of the view that Ambedkar Bhavan should be preserved because of its emotional value as B R Ambedkar had got it built.
The high court is hearing an application filed by the People’s Improvement Trust against the proposed rebuilding of the demolished structure through ‘shramdaan’ (voluntary contribution of labour).
On July 29, the high court had restrained people from stepping into Ambedkar Bhavan and rebuild or restore it.
(Source : PTI)
