Nehru Documents Row: No Missing Files Found, PMML May Not Pursue Legal Action
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The Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) has informed the Lok Sabha that no documents related to India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, were found missing during the annual inspection in 2025. This contradicts earlier internal discussions where members of the executive council had proposed recovering a set of Nehru's private letters currently held by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The PMML had sought clarity on the status of the papers and asked for their return or digital copies for archival purposes in July. Gandhi responded, stating she would look into the matter, but no further communication has followed. Officials now say the PMML is reconsidering legal action, citing a lack of clear basis to challenge Gandhi's possession. A senior official explained that lawyers have flagged gaps and inconsistencies in records related to ownership, custody, and transfer of the documents. A court case could drag on for years without a clear outcome, making it unlikely that the PMML will pursue legal action. The dispute dates back to 2008, when around 50 boxes of Nehru's private papers were removed from the library without a formal agreement on their status. PMML officials argued that the move resulted in the loss of important archival material. While some members of the governing council had pushed for legal action earlier this year, internal reviews concluded that the absence of binding documentation would weaken any claim. The matter is now likely to remain on hold unless Sonia Gandhi or the Nehru family offers to return the material or allows access for digitisation. An official stated that the PMML would prefer cooperation rather than confrontation. Meanwhile, the Nehru Archives initiative of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund may utilize the disputed papers, which include correspondence with foreign leaders, diplomats, writers, and associates.
