Today, On 12th March, Supreme Court of India said it will not hear a plea to bring the claimed ashes of Subhas Chandra Bose from Japan To India. CJI Kant asked, “How many times will this issue come to court? He was the greatest leader of our nation. We all bow down to his supreme sacrifice. But how many family members?”
The Supreme Court indicated that it would not entertain a petition seeking the return of what are claimed to be the ashes of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose from Japan to India, unless his daughter his sole heir comes forward to file such a petition.
The court expressed reservations about a plea submitted by Bose’s grand-nephew, journalist Ashish Ray, which challenged the Central government’s inaction regarding the repatriation of the ashes currently housed at Tokyo’s Renkō-Ji Temple.
Ray argued that this would allow his daughter, Anita Bose Pfaff, to perform Bose’s last rites in India.
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A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M Pancholi acknowledged their deep respect for Bose.
However, they noted that similar petitions have been filed previously and that the court cannot keep responding to multiple requests from different family members on the same issue.
CJI Kant asked,
“How many times will this issue come to court? He was the greatest leader of our nation. We all bow down to his supreme sacrifice. But how many family members?”
Senior Advocate A.M. Singhvi, representing Ashish Ray, informed the bench that Bose’s daughter had joined the hearing via video conference and supported the petition.
Singhvi stated,
“So many Indian prime ministers have paid respects at the temple. The daughter is here on the screen, Ms. Anita,”
The court suggested it would be more open to considering the appeal if she were to file it herself.
Justice Bagchi remarked,
“Let the heir come to court and seek this. We respect her sentiments and we will ensure her sentiments are made into legal action. But let her come to court,”
On Ray’s plea, Additionally, CJI Kant pointed out,
“This is not the timing for such a plea also,”
Ultimately, the petition was withdrawn, allowing for the possibility of re-filing it later.
Singhvi said,
“Allow me to withdraw with liberty,”
To this, CJI Kant replied,
“Alright.”
Subhas Chandra Bose is believed to have died in an air crash in Taihoku (Taipei) in August 1945 while in exile from British-ruled India.
It is alleged that his mortal remains ashes from the crash were transported to Tokyo for temporary preservation at a temple, where they have remained for over eight decades.
The petition filed by Bose’s grand-nephew, stated ,
“Netaji’s remains were kept at Renkō-Ji Temple ‘for a few months’ but have remained there for over 80 years – preserved and honoured by successive head priests forming a continuing state of affairs of ‘posthumous exile’ and non-closure for Netaji’s now late wife and daughter Professor Anita Bose Pfaff,”
The plea emphasized that, despite differing opinions on the time of Netaji’s death, several inquiry commissions have concurred that the ashes at Renkō-Ji Temple undeniably belong to the freedom fighter.
It also highlighted Anita Bose Pfaff’s repeated requests for the return of these ashes so that Netaji’s final rites can be conducted in India with the dignity he deserves.
The plea filed through advocate Ritika Vohra stated,
“The petition is fully endorsed by Netaji’s daughter and sole surviving heir Professor Anita Bose Pfaff, including by her most recent statements on her father’s ashes and her desire expressed therein that these be brought to India for final rites with dignity and finality … The Petitioner only seeks time-bound repatriation of Netaji’s ashes by the Government of India or, in the alternative, facilitation to the Petitioner and Professor Anita Bose Pfaff to repatriate the ashes of Netaji from Japan to India,”
Case Title: ASHIS RAY Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS, W.P.(C) No. 268/2026