The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) on Monday informed the Bombay High Court that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) was exploring the possibility of acquiring “Meherangir”, the iconic bungalow of India’s Atomic Energy Department Dr Homi J Bhabha at Malbar Hills in south Mumbai, and converting it into a museum in his memory.
An Under Secretary of the DAE made a submission to this effect in an affidavit filed before a high court division bench, headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah, which is hearing a public interest litigation on the preservation of iconic bungalow.
The Centre’s intervention came four days after “Meherangir”, the bungalow where the Dr Homi J Bhabha lived with his brother Dr Jamshed Bhabha, was auctioned off to an undisclosed Indian buyer at a price of Rs 372 crore, amidst vehement calmour being witnessed in various quarters for converting the iconic structure into a national museum.
In his affidavit before the high court, the DAE official stated, “The PMO has written a letter to the Department of legal Affairs to present the Central Government’s viewpoint before the court.”