Karnataka HC Dismisses PIL on Alleged Missing Volume of Gandhi’s Autobiography
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that alleged a “missing” second volume of Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography My Experiments with Truth.
The petition was filed by an organisation named Jagrutha Karnataka, Jagrutha Bharatha, led by its President KN Manjunatha. He appeared in person before the Bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi.
The plea had sought explanations from several parties including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former SCBA President Kapil Sibal, and the Central and State Education Ministries.
The petitioner argued that there were gaps and distortions in Indian history, particularly in school textbooks, which he claimed had created divisions in society. He raised questions about Mahatma Gandhi’s absence from the Independence Day celebrations in Delhi on August 15, 1947, and claimed that a supposed second volume of Gandhi’s autobiography, covering the period 1927–1947, had never been published.
He also sought a direction from the Court to compel the authorities and leaders to respond to his letters sent between 2023 and 2024, and even asked for the production of a photograph of Gandhi at the 1947 Independence celebrations.
However, the High Court found the petition vague and without sufficient grounds. The Bench declined to intervene and dismissed the plea.
