Supreme Court Mandates Status Quo on Ahmedabad Ashram Land Dispute
Introduction
The Supreme Court of India has issued an interim order to maintain the status quo regarding approximately 45,000 square metres of land occupied by the Sant Shri Asharam Trust in Ahmedabad, temporarily halting the Gujarat government's efforts to reclaim the property for sports infrastructure development.
Main Body
The dispute centers on a land parcel in Motera, situated near the Narendra Modi Stadium, which the state government intends to incorporate into the Sardar Patel Sports Complex. This development is aligned with preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and a bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. The legal proceedings follow an April 17 ruling by the Gujarat High Court, which dismissed the Trust's appeals and permitted the state to reclaim the land based on alleged lease violations and encroachments, including unauthorized occupation of the Sabarmati riverbed. During the proceedings, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, identified procedural deficiencies in the state's administrative actions. The court observed that the show-cause notices issued by municipal authorities prima facie lacked necessary material particulars. Furthermore, the bench questioned the consistency of the state's position, noting that the government had previously regularized portions of the land that were initially classified as encroachments. Representing the Gujarat government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asserted that the Trust exceeded its original 1980 allotment of 6,261 square metres and constructed over 30 buildings without requisite permissions. Conversely, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Trust, contended that the land was lawfully allotted for an ashram, school, and social activities. He argued that the eviction proceedings were selective and motivated by the state's desire to acquire the land for the sports enclave. Parallel to the land dispute, the founder of the ashram, Asaram, is currently serving life imprisonment following convictions in two separate rape cases—one involving a minor in Rajasthan and another involving a disciple in Gujarat. He is presently released on medical bail. The Supreme Court has directed both the state and the Trust to submit relevant records within three days, with the next hearing scheduled for early May.
Conclusion
The current situation remains an impasse, as the Supreme Court's directive prevents any demolition or coercive action until the legal validity of the state's eviction notices and the Trust's land claims are further adjudicated.