In a major development in legal history, the Supreme Court of India on April 28, 2026, ordered a status quo in a land dispute involving the self-proclaimed godman, Asaram Bapu, in Gujarat. The decision prevents the state government from taking any coercive action to seize land in Ahmedabad’s Motera area related to his ashram, which covers about 45000 square metres.
The Court of Justice ruled that the status quo of the land shall be maintained until the next hearing, scheduled for May 5, 2026. The court observed that the show-cause notices issued by municipal authorities did not appear to contain adequate material details on their face. It also considered the argument by the Sant Shri Asharam Trust that no due notice was served to them.
The government of Gujarat had intended to reclaim the land, claiming that it was an unlawful intrusion in the riverbed of the Sabarmati. The reclaimed land was planned for development into a sports complex, to be used in preparation for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and as a future bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
The order issued by the Supreme Court practically stays a decision by the Gujarat High Court made earlier this April, which had allowed the state to continue acquiring the land.
In the meantime, Asaram Bapu is serving life imprisonment over several rape convictions, of which he received convictions in the year 2013 in Jodhpur and Gandhinagar. He has been placed on interim medical bail in the meantime, and this has been renewed on a periodic basis on ground of health issues.
In his Jodhpur conviction appeal, the Rajasthan High Court heard final submissions on April 20, 2026, and is awaiting a decision on the case.