COVID-19 : Plea In SC For Closure Of Ashrams Run By 'Fake Babas'

A petition filed in Supreme Court seeks an urgent direction to shut down all ashrams run by "fake Babas" or spiritual leaders on the argument that the "unhygienic conditions" prevailing in them could defeat the efforts of contain the spreading COVID-19 contagion.

Citing an order of the Apex Court from March 23, where directions were passed in an attempt to decongest jails and ensure social distancing during the Corona virus scare, the petitioner argues that a large number of women/girls inmates are living in jail like conditions in these Ashrams. The petitioner claims his own daughter has been living in such an Ashram in Rohini, Delhi since 2015 which was founded by a fake Baba who is a rape accused and has been absconding for about 3 years. Apropos this, he seeks directions from Court for "rescuing his daughter along with about 170 women inmates from Corona virus who are living in jail like conditions in Adhyatmika Vidyalaya at Rohini of Delhi as it was done in the case of inmates of jails across the country."

Having named the founder of this Ashram, the petitioner goes on to submit that the "apex body of sages i.e., 'Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad' has declared 17 Babas as fake babas and cautioned the public from them." This list includes some well-known names including Asaram Bapu, Gurmeet Ram Raheem, Radhe Maa and Veerendra Dev Dixit against whom "very serious criminal cases" are registered. The plea urges the top Court to take stringent action against illegal Ashrams run by these 17 "bogus babas" and order vacation of the same which are "having hundreds of women inmates in un hygienic conditions to avoid spreading of Covid 19". Further directions are sought from the Court to close down any such ashram which is run by persons found to have any criminal records.

Reiterating that the conditions and hygiene levels in these Ashrams present a legitimate threat to increasing the spread of the novel Corona Virus, it is urged that the Court treats the prevalent situation on the same footing as it did with jails.

The Court's intervention is required, alleges the petitioner, since innocent women continue to get trapped due to the inaction of the Government and its authorities. It is also stated that these Ashrams have not been verified properly by the authorities.

"Authorities are not verifying the facilities available in the Ashrams and the Ashrams are in very poor conditions. They does not have basic amenities and conditions are very un hygienic…considering the urgent prevailing situation due to spreading of Corona virus in the country particularly in places where social distance is not maintained such as the illegal Ashram i.e., Adhyatmika Vidyalaya at Rohini in Delhi and 16 other Bogus Ashrams set up by Bogus Babas, Petitioner prays for the intervention of this Hon'ble Court for the rescue of the Women/persons in the Ashrams."

The petitioner additionally seeks guidelines for the establishment of Ashrams across India as well as directions to authorities to ensure a register of inmates is maintained and fake Ashrams are verified.