NEW DELHI, March 3 (UPI) -- An Indian high court Tuesday issued an interim stay on a planned New York auction of Mahatma Gandhi's personal effects, observers said.
Delhi High Court Justice Anil Kumar approved the stay order after it was requested by Indian Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran, who was appearing on behalf of the Navjivan Trust, a publishing house founded by the great Indian leader, the Indo-Asian News Service reported.
The ruling came as the Indian government asserted it was "doing whatever" it could to halt the Thursday auction to be staged by Antiquorum Auctioneers, in which Gandhi's iconic round glasses and sandals and were to be sold to the highest bidder.
Parasaran told the court that Gandhi's effects could not be sold because they belonged to India and were illegally taken away, saying, "Any article belonging to Gandhi is of great heritage value and is considered legitimately owned by India."
The Indian Cultural Ministry says it take will legal action in addition to asking the auctioneer to take the items off the table. It is also considering asking an Indian American group to buy the articles and then to donate them to India, IANS said.
