More than a year after the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court directed authorities to restore Savarkar Nagar Garden to its original condition, the civic administration has allegedly failed to take meaningful action, leaving the public space in a neglected state. The High Court, in its order dated April 4, 2025, had instructed the civic body to ensure that the garden regained its former glory following the removal of an unauthorised food court that had been constructed on a portion of the premises. However, as of June 2026, residents claim that little has changed at the garden. While the private operator dismantled the food court structure following the court’s directive, large quantities of debris and garbage remain scattered across the site. Boundary walls erected by the operator continue to stand, and the washroom facility built during the food court’s operation has reportedly fallen into disrepair. The portion of the garden that once housed the food court remains unusable.

 

Residents point out that the land was levelled to accommodate commercial activities and has not been restored to its original condition. They also question why civic authorities have not inspected the site to ensure proper compliance with the court’s order. Public gardens are intended to provide recreational and green spaces for citizens, particularly senior citizens and children. However, several gardens across the city have reportedly been converted into food court zones or to accomodate commercial activities, often without proper approvals. Savarkar Nagar Garden became one such casualty, depriving local residents of an important public amenity. Developed on Public Utility (PU) land reserved for community use, the garden became the focus of protests by the Savarkar Nagar Garden Bachao Samiti, which alleged unauthorised commercial encroachment. After repeated representations to authorities yielded no results, the Samiti approached the High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). During the hearing, petitioner Dr Rajesh Swarnakar, represented by Advocate Tushar Mandlekar, submitted photographs showing that structures made of iron pipes and tin sheets had been removed.

 

However, the Division Bench comprising Justice Avinash Gharote and Justice Abhay Mantri observed that cement platforms and other remnants of the food court would also have to be removed to fully restore the garden. The court made it clear that whether the restoration work was undertaken by the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) or the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) was immaterial to citizens. The responsibility, it said, was to restore the garden to its original condition without delay. Expressing disappointment over the continued inaction, Dr Swarnakar told The Hitavada, “As residents, we did not approach the High Court lightly. This PIL was filed because public green spaces in our city are being systematically encroached upon and commercialised, often with institutional complicity. The Court agreed with us. Yet here we are — the order exists on paper, but the garden does not exist in reality.”

 

He further warned that the matter could once again be brought before the court if authorities continue to ignore the order. “The NMC must understand that a court order is not a suggestion. Non-compliance is contempt, plain and simple. We will not hesitate to seek appropriate action against the responsible officers. Our gardens belong to our children, our elderly and our future. No bureaucratic indifference should be allowed to bury that right under a slab of cement rubble,” he said. Residents now await concrete action from the civic administration to restore the garden and uphold the spirit of the High Court's directive.