Delhi High Court On Tuesday appointed a committee to investigate the business of the monastery of absconding Godman Virendra Dev Dixit, which would be overseen by IPS officer Kiran Bedi.
The committee will look into the activities of the ashram underneath the supervision of IPS officer Kiran Bedi.
According to the acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla, the committee was established to ensure that no female or kid is exposed to any treatment that might be considered a violation of their fundamental rights.
The formation of this committee was motivated by the desire to protect the welfare of the general public.
In addition to the former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi, the committee will include the concerned district judge or their nominee, the local District Magistrate (DM), the DCP (Crime against Women cell), the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, one nominee of the Delhi Commission for Women, and a district officer of the Women’s Development Organization.
In addition to the district judge serving as Chairperson, the committee will include a district official from the Women and Child Development Department serving as the Convener.
In addition, Swati Maliwal, the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, was vocal in her opposition to Bedi, claiming that Bedi had engaged in political opposition to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Delhi High Court denied the plea, stating that her political leanings do not preclude her from providing service to the community.
Justice Sanghi made the following statement:
“Let us put politics aside for the time being. Please give her (Bedi) some credit for having a strong sense of the importance of the cause. It is not her duty to society that she is disqualified because she has a predilection for a certain political party.”
It also vowed to appoint a committee to conduct frequent inspections of the facilities where these women were being held in inhumane circumstances, as well as to engage freely with them on a regular basis.
Additionally, the facility’s data on the prisoners who have come and gone from the institution would be accessible for review.
The Court has granted the committee in charge of consulting physicians and mental health professionals’ complete authority to observe and assess the development of these individuals and determine whether or not they are in good physical and psychological health.
According to the directive, reports from the committee are expected to be submitted monthly.
Brahma Kumaris follower Virendra Dev Dixit, who subsequently founded his institution, Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya, is accused of detaining women and sexually abusing them. He has denied the allegations.
The self-proclaimed Godman (read monster) and his ashram were embroiled in scandal in December 2018 after authorities rescued 40 women from the village of Rohini, where his ashram is located.
Since then, Dixit has been on the run from authorities. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now in charge of investigating the matter (CBI).
The Delhi and Central governments have also been ordered by the Court to maintain a high level of vigilance in the growing number of Ashrams in the city.
Furthermore, it said that the government should severely implement the requirements of the Women and Children’s Licensing Act, 1956, and the regulations created thereunder, which apply to institutions such as ashrams, convents, and boarding schools.
The matter will now be heard on May 27, according to the Court’s schedule.
Edited by – Vanshika Sahu
Published by – Mohd Faizan
