The Gujarat High Court dismissed a plea by Asaram’s Ahmedabad ashram challenging the State’s move to reclaim land for sports infrastructure ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2030. The court upheld the government’s stand that the ashram had exceeded the permitted land use and violated allotment conditions.
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by an ashram founded by self-styled godman Asaram in Ahmedabad, clearing the way for the State government to go ahead with land acquisition for developing sports infrastructure ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2030.
The plea was filed by Sant Shri Asharam Ashram challenging the government’s move to reclaim a large parcel of land in the Motera area of Ahmedabad, located
“not far from the Narendra Modi Stadium and the under-construction Sardar Patel Sports Complex.”
The land is part of an area being developed as a major sports hub in view of upcoming international sporting events.
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The matter was heard by a single bench of Justice Vaibhavi Nanavati. Opposing the plea, government pleader GH Virk told the court that the land was originally allotted several decades ago for limited religious purposes only. However, over time, the ashram had expanded beyond the legally permitted boundaries and violated the conditions on which the land was granted.
The government submitted that the land was given subject to strict conditions, including that it would not be used for commercial purposes, that no unauthorised construction would be carried out, and that all activities would strictly follow the permissions granted by authorities.
According to the State, official inspections later revealed that large-scale construction had taken place and that the occupation of land was far beyond what was originally allotted.
Arguing before the court, the government said the ashram had been issued several notices and given multiple opportunities to be heard. Despite this, the violations continued.
It was submitted that the ashram “cannot be allowed to expand through encroachment and then legitimised,” stressing that illegal occupation cannot be protected merely because it has continued for many years.
The State further told the court that reclaiming the land was crucial as Ahmedabad prepares to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 and also works towards long-term Olympic ambitions. The government said that recovering around “45,000 square metres” of land would significantly help in developing modern sports infrastructure in the Motera area.
After considering the submissions, the High Court dismissed the plea filed by the ashram, thereby allowing the government to proceed with its land acquisition drive.
Asaram, now aged 84, is currently serving life imprisonment. He was convicted for raping a minor girl at his ashram in Rajasthan in 2013. In January 2023, a court in Gandhinagar also sentenced him to life imprisonment in another rape case.
The Gandhinagar court had convicted Asaram in a case registered in 2013 for raping a woman disciple from Surat on multiple occasions between 2001 and 2006, when she was residing at his Motera ashram.
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