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HC orders status quo on Ramdev’s Himachal land
Legal Correspondent

Shimla, February 27
The Himachal Pradesh High Court today declined to give immediate relief to yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth, but it ordered the state government to maintain status quo in respect of the land that was leased out to the trust in 2010. The court restrained the state government from demolishing the structure raised on the land and also directed it not to change the nature or possession of land.

THE DIRECTIVE Don’t demolish the structure already raised on the land Don’t change the nature or possession of land Reply to court notice in 4 weeks

The Patanjali Yogpeeth has filed a writ petition in the high court challenging the cancellation of the lease and seeking possession of the land. The petitioner alleged the state government cancelled the lease illegally and unilaterally and then took over possession of the land forcefully, without giving any notice to the trust. It urged the court that the possession of land be restored to it.

The court, however, refused to grant the interim relief sought by the petitioner as regards possession of the land. It means the control of the land in question would remain with the government, but it would not be able to change its nature.

The Division Bench of Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Kuldip Singh issued notice to the state and directed the state authorities to file replies within the four weeks. It listed the matter for further hearing on April 24.

The petitioner had alleged that the action of the state was arbitrary as it had not given any reason for cancelling the land lease. Moreover, the trust was not granted any opportunity of being heard before passing the order.