NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea for a direction to Centre to declare Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birthday anniversary, January 23, as national holiday and also to raise a memorial hall and museum for him in New Delhi and other capitals of all states of India.
A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala told the petitioner’s counsel the best way to celebrate is by working hard, “Just as he worked hard for freedom”.
The bench also said the issue fell in the domain of the Executive.
"What will the court do? Take jurisdiction of the court seriously. you are also a lawyer”, the bench told the lawyer, appearing for petitioner K K Ramesh.
To this, the lawyer said that today (November 14) is Children's Day and other days like Buddha Jayanti etc are also observed.
"Why not the birth anniversary of Neta ji," the counsel said.
The bench then told the counsel not to make mockery of the PIL.
The counsel contended he had approached the concerned authorities seeking the same relief but nothing has happened so far.
The bench, however, dismissed the petition.
In his plea, Ramesh, a resident of Madurai, contended Netaji has committed many sacrifices for India’s Independence and every Indian should not forget Netaji words of 'Delhi Challo' and 'Jai Hind'.
“But, the Indian Government failed to honour him till today even though thousands of Indian National army men died for India’s Independence. The Indian government is always trying to hide the history of Netaji and nowadays young Indian students and people are not aware about the sacrifice of Netaji and his Indian - National Army. In the world many countries including Japan honoured Netaji," the plea said.
Subhash stood for unqualified Swaraj (self-governance), including the use of force against the British and this meant a confrontation with Mohandas Gandhi, who in fact opposed Bose's presidency, splitting the Indian National Congress party, it said.
“Bose attempted to maintain unity, but Gandhi advised Bose to form his own cabinet. The rift also divided Bose and Nehru. Bose appeared at the 1939 Congress meeting on a stretcher. He was elected president again over Gandhi's preferred candidate Pattabhi Sitaramayya," the plea added.
Every Indian citizen want to honour Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. No one should forget the sacrifice of Subhash Chandra Bose. For the sacrifice of Bose for India’s Independence, the Government of India should confer Bharat Ratna award to Bose and should construct a memorial hall and Museum of his life history in New Delhi and other capitals of states, it urged.
