The Orissa High Court has lifted the interim stay on the eviction of Baikuntha Dham ashram in Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, paving the way for potential demolition.
The ashram, which has been accused of encroaching on government land, failed to provide the necessary construction permissions.
The court’s decision follows a previous directive issued on November 21, 2024, which had temporarily halted any aggressive actions against the ashram’s structure. However, after reviewing the government’s status update, the High Court nullified its initial relief.
The Baikuntha Dham ashram, located on plot numbers 9037 and 9038 in Ghatikia, occupies approximately 0.140 acres of government land. The General Administration (GA) Department had earlier verified the encroachment and issued eviction notices to the ashram authorities.
The ashram’s Trust, which supports yoga education initiatives, had submitted a recommendation letter claimed to be from the GA Department. However, the court found the letter to be fabricated, leading to the lifting of the interim stay.
The High Court has mandated that the ashram authorities respond comprehensively to the government’s affidavit by the next scheduled hearing on February 3, 2025.
