The government is contemplating serving a legal notice on British auction house Christie's to stop sale of a rare manuscript of Mahatma Gandhi written 19 days before his assassination in 1948.The Indian High Commission in London is likely to serve the legal notice on Christie's to stop its auction on July 3, sources told PTI.The notice will be served on the recommendation of the Culture Ministry which argues that the manuscript cannot be sold as its copywright is with Ahmedabad-based Navjiwan Trust."We are contemplating serving a legal notice on Christie's explaining to them that as the copywright of all Gandhiji's writings are with the Navjiwan Trust they cannot sell the letter," sources said."As the ownership of the manuscript is with the Trust, it cannot belong to a private collector. The auction house has no right to sell it in these circumstances," the sources added.Gandhiji willed all his letters, writings and books to the trust, they pointed out.The manuscript was written by the Mahatma 19 days before his assassination for the 'Harijan' publication edited by him on January 11, 1948. In the article, he had pleaded for tolerance towards Muslims.
