Bhubaneswar: The Orissa high court on Thursday stayed the demolition of Baikuntha Ashram, issued by the general administration department, as it stood on govt land. The order comes days after the ashram courted controversy after the preacher projected his son as a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The GA department had on Thursday issued the eviction order after it was found that the ashram had encroached upon govt land. The GA department asked the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) to carry out demolition on Friday. The BDA subsequently issued a notice and had made an announcement, asking the inmates to vacate the ashram.
However, the head of the ashram approached the HC against the eviction, pleading that he was not issued any such eviction notice and that the authorities were arbitrarily going to demolish the ashram.
The high court noted the matter and directed the authorities that no coercive action shall be taken till Dec 12.
"Based on the requisition of the GA department, we had readied our machinery and manpower to proceed with the eviction tomorrow (Friday) morning. But since the Orissa high court has issued a stay, we have to abide by it," BDA's additional commissioner (enforcement) Ranjan Jena said.
Officials of the general administration department, along with BDA personnel, had visited the site earlier this month and carried out an inspection, during which they concluded that the ashram was standing on govt land. Based on the inspection, the department had issued the eviction order.