NEW DELHI: Three months after a failed attempt by his grandnephew, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s octogenarian Germany-based daughter, Anita Pfaff, moved Supreme Court Tuesday seeking a direction to govt to bring his ashes back from the Renko-Ji temple in Japan.Pfaff’s petition, settled by senior advocate A M Singhvi, complained of “India’s prolonged failure to take a final, reasoned and time-bound decision” to repatriate to India the “mortal remains/ashes attributed to Netaji, preserved at Renko-Ji temple” to allow the sole living direct lineal descendant to perform his last rites with dignity and finality.“There is gross delay,” said a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi. However, it adjourned the hearing on Pfaff’s petition on finding the arguing counsel absent.Ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections, a petition was filed in SC by Netaji’s gr-andnephew, Ashis Ray, seeking the same direction to the Centre. Appearing for Ray, Singhvi had argued before the bench of the same three judges on March 12 that the petition had the support of Pfaff, who joined the proceedings virtually.Singhvi had said the fact that every head of state from India, over decades, had paid obeisance at Renko-Ji temple was proof that the freedom fighter’s ashes were there. The CJI-led bench had said there was no doubt that he was one of the country’s greatest freedom fighters, but refused to entertain Ray’s plea.Justice Bagchi had said, “We respect her (Pfaff’s) sentiments and we will ensure that her sentiments are translated into legal action. But she must step forward.”Singhvi had withdrawn the petition. Heeding SC’s suggestion, Pfaff filed the petition seeking repatriation of Netaji’s ashes by India or, as an alternative, “facilitate her to repatriate the ashes”.
