Women in godman Virendra Dev Dixit's ashram clearly indoctrinated; Court cannot be fooled: Delhi High Court

The women housed at the ashram of absconding godman Virendra Dev Dixit in Delhi appear to be indoctrinated, resulting in them tolerating the inhuman living conditions in the ashram, the Delhi High Court observed on Thursday..Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi said that it can’t be accepted that any sane person would choose to live in such ‘inhumane conditions’ prevailing at the ashram and even though the inmates may say that they are living there out of their free will, the Court cannot shut its eyes to facts..The bench, also comprising Justice Navin Chawla, therefore directed the standing counsel for the Delhi Government to obtain instructions from the Women and Child Development Department as to whether they are ready to take over the institution.The Court disagreed with the decision of the predecessor bench which had interacted with the women living at the ashram and refused to pass any orders.It said that merely because the women were called to court and they stated that they were living voluntarily is not enough as no normal rational human mind would live in such conditions.“It seems the court previously called the inmates and spoke to them. The judges were satisfied that these women were there due to their own free will and therefore no direction was passed. But there is one aspect which appears to have missed out. That is how we can accept that any sane person can live in this condition. This indoctrination is there. They may say they are there out of their own free will but can shut our eyes to this. Who is funding this institution? Who is providing for it? They are not willing to come up.”The case will now be considered on Monday..How we can accept that any sane person can live in this condition. This indoctrination is there.Delhi High Court.Virendra Dev Dixit was an adherent of the Brahma Kumaris, who later founded his own organisation named Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya. Dixit has been accused of confining and sexually exploiting over 100 women at his ‘fortress-like ashram’ in Delhi’s Rohini area.The godman and his ashram shot to news in December 2018 when over 40 women were rescued from the premises by the Delhi Police. Since then, Dixit has been on the run. The case is now being dealt with by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)..The bench was hearing two petitions related to the condition of women living at Dixit’s ashram in Delhi’s Rohini area.In the previous hearing on Tuesday, the Court had said that it was of the prima facie view that the operation of the institution should be handed over to the Delhi government..Today, the counsel appearing for the institution submitted that all the allegations raised against them are false and because they are a minority institution whose adherents have their own beliefs, they are protected under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.“We are an offshoot of Brahma Kumaris. If they can exist, why can’t we? He (Dixit) has taken the nation to spiritual empowerment and that is why these women are here. They consider this as their house and their temple,” the counsel submitted..Justice Sanghi, however, said that the Court cannot be fooled and that that no minority institution gets a license to violate fundamental rights of an individual particularly the right to life and personal liberty.“We are clear in our mind that no minority institution gets a license only by being such an institution to conduct its affairs so as to violate the fundamental rights of an individual particularly the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21. It falls on the state to ensure that violation of such rights is prevented. We are not for a moment suggesting that the Respondent institution and its inmates should not profess their religious and spiritual belief. They are free to do that so long as they do not contravene any law or constitutional provision. Even if the GNCTD were to take over the institution and appoint an administrator, the freedom of the inmates to exercise their religious and spiritual rights will not be affected,” the Court noted in its order..Justice Sanghi also remarked that it was shocking that this had been going on in the national capital and that this is not the singular case where a baba or godman had been charged with rape.He said that though the Court cannot force any major person to live with their parents, nor is it willing to do so, that does not mean that an ashram can be run in this manner. ."Shocked:" Delhi High Court on ashram of absconding godman Virendra Dev Dixit housing 160 women in 'animal-like' conditions.Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.