The Gujarat High Court has allowed the state government to reclaim around 45,000 square metres of land in Ahmedabad. The land is occupied by Asaram Bapu’s Sant Shri Asharam Ashram. It is located near the Narendra Modi Stadium.

The court dismissed petitions filed by the ashram trust. It has given the trust two weeks to vacate the land. The state plans to use the site for the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave and future Commonwealth and Olympic-linked projects.

The order has sparked protests. Supporters say the ashram provides spiritual guidance and welfare services. Officials, however, say the action follows the law. They add that the land is needed for public development projects.

Court Backing for State’s Land Reclamation Plan

The Gujarat High Court’s decision on 5 February came after government pleaders argued that the land, originally allotted decades ago for “religious use”, was used for unauthorised construction, violating the terms of allotment.

Authorities told the court that at least 32 illegal structures, valued around ₹500 crore, had been identified on the site and that applications by the ashram trust to regularise these were rejected by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Justice Vaibhavi D. Nanavati granted the ashram two weeks to vacate, in line with the eviction notices already served, with a detailed order still awaited.

Government advocates also highlighted that irregularities came to light during planning for Ahmedabad’s bid for the 2036 Olympic Games and preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, where the ashram land forms part of a larger 650-acre sports and Olympic village plan around the existing stadium complex.

Officials maintain the acquisition and subsequent demolition process is rooted in legal compliance and public interest, rejecting claims that actions were sudden or arbitrary.

Protests and Local Responses

News reports and on-the-ground visuals show a section of ashram supporters and local residents expressing anger and concern over the demolition plan.

Protesters argue that the ashram is not merely a physical compound but a hub of yoga, meditation, spiritual discourse and social welfare activities, drawing devotees and community members who fear loss of services and a place of gathering. They have demanded reconsideration of the court’s order and engagement with authorities.

AMC officials, meanwhile, have defended the enforcement of land-use conditions, stating that unchecked encroachments on government land cannot be legitimised.

According to a municipal official, the rejection of the trust’s impact-fee application to regularise 30 constructions was consistent with established policy to prevent incremental violations.

Historical Context and Legal Trajectory

The dispute over the Motera ashram is part of a long-running legal tussle. Previous notices and orders dating back years have accused the ashram trust of non-compliance with land-use regulations, including alleged unauthorised constructions without statutory approvals.

The AMC’s legal committee has been pursuing removal of such structures as part of broader redevelopment plans.

This legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of Asaram Bapu’s controversial legacy. Convicted of rape in a high-profile 2013 case and serving life imprisonment, his detention and intermittent interim bails on medical grounds have kept him in national headlines.

His appeal processes in higher courts, including the Rajasthan High Court, and past interim suspensions of his sentence, have fuelled public discourse and media scrutiny.

Meanwhile, broader moves by the Gujarat government to regulate unauthorised religious and encroaching structures illustrated by hundreds of notices issued statewide signal intensified enforcement of land governance norms in civic spaces and near public infrastructure.

Debate Over Development, Heritage and Community Rights

The High Court’s order highlights a frequently recurring theme in urban India’s expansion: the tension between ambitious infrastructure projects and established community or religious sites. Proponents of the demolition argue that land reclamation is a lawful step toward building world-class facilities that could bring international events, tourism and economic opportunities to Ahmedabad.

They emphasise that statutes governing land use must be upheld uniformly, and that exceptions cannot be made even for longstanding institutions when conditions of allotment are breached.

Critics contend the demolition risks eroding cultural and spiritual spaces that serve local populations, and that authorities should pursue dialogue and negotiated solutions rather than confrontational enforcement.

Some observers also point to wider debates around governance, heritage preservation and equitable development in rapidly urbanising cities.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

At the heart of this unfolding story lie questions of justice, development, empathy and social harmony. A democratic society must ensure that rule of law and land governance are respected for collective progress.

Yet, it is equally essential that affected communities feel heard and engaged in planning decisions that alter their social and spiritual landscapes.

Heavy-handed demolition without meaningful dialogue can deepen mistrust and alienation, even when courts and civic bodies act within legal bounds.

The aspirations of a city to host global sporting events should not eclipse the imperative to protect communal well-being and preserve spaces that hold social value and historical resonance for many citizens.

We urge both the state and protestors to approach this issue with respectful dialogue, mindful of the diverse voices involved.