Members of Indian People’s Theatre Association stage a play on Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on the 64th death anniversary of the Father of the Nation on Monday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Motihari, Jan. 30: A warm welcome accorded to Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Motihari in 1917 is proving dear for a family based in the town today.

Madhusudan Singh, the present owner of the house in which Gandhiji stayed as a guest for some days, has been barred from carrying out any construction or renovation work on the premises.

Madhusudan (37) inherited the house from his grandfather Mahendra Singh, who bought it from Gandhiji’s host Babu Gorakh Prasad in 1958. At present, Madhusudan’s family members and a relative, Vijay Singh, stay in the house, constructed on over 4 cottah.

In July 2010, Madhusudan started some construction work over a vacant portion of the land. Soon the work was stopped by the district administration and Section 144 of CrPC was imposed on the land by then Motihari sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Kanhaiyaa Prasad. The prohibitory order lapsed in two months time (60 days) but the construction work has not been allowed yet.

The district administration told Madhusudan that the tourism department is planning to develop a Gandhian circuit in the district and his property is included in the plan. Based upon the circle officer’s assessment in 2010, the total value of the house and the vacant land situated in the heart of the city was calculated around Rs 1.16 crore.

According to the records available with the general section of the collectorate, the last letter dealing with the takeover of the land for developing it as a part of the Gandhian circuit was sent to the secretary of tourism department on April 29, 2010. No reminders have been sent to the department after that.

When asked if any compensation has been offered by the district administration, Vijay said: “No such proposal has been given yet.”

According to Motihari SDM Radha Kant, the site will be developed as a part of the Gandhian circuit once the proposal sent to the tourism department is accepted.

When contacted, principal secretary of the tourism department Deepak Kumar said: “Such matters are not related to the tourism department. It is the subject of the department of art and culture.”

Madhusudan has filed a writ petition before Patna High Court. The high court has stayed the process of property takeover, said Madhusudan’s lawyer Vinod Singh.