The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday issued notices to the Centre, Delhi Government, police chief and Asaram Bapu’s trust on a petition seeking direction to demolish an alleged illegal ‘ashram’ constructed by the self-styled godman in the Ridge area here.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar also issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ministry of Urban Development on the petition seeking initiation of criminal proceedings against the trustees of the Sant Shree Asaramji Trust along with the demolition.
The order came on a plea filed by one Sanjay Kumar whose advocate Gaurav Bansal told the bench that the Asaram’s Trust has illegally constructed an ‘ashram’ and other structures in the Central Ridge area here despite notification issued by the Delhi Government in May 1994, declaring Ridge area as “reserved forest” in terms of the provisions of the Indian Forest Act.
The petitioner said he recently learnt from a media report that the Asaram Ji Trust has constructed an illegal ‘ashram’ at Karol Bagh, Central Ridge area.
He said the media report stated that “eight years ago, the Ministry of Urban Development had itself acknowledged that the trust illegally encroached upon a large portion of land situated within the Central Ridge....”
He said the authorities concerned even served an eviction notice to the Trust, but in vain. “There is strong apprehension among the general public that the Ridge Management Board has allowed the development of land against the procedure established by law...,” stated the petition.
The 72-year-old Godman, Asaram Bapu, was arrested on rape charges in August and is in judicial custody.