The Haryana Assembly passed a bill on Friday that empowers the state government to assume control over the management of Aparna Ashram in Gurugram, an institution founded by the late yoga guru Dhirendra Brahmachari.
The bill, known as the Aparna Institution (Taking Over of Management and Control) Bill, 2025, aims to ensure the proper and efficient administration of the institution in the public interest for a limited period.
According to the provisions of the bill, disputes between members of the governing society of Aparna Ashram have persisted for several years. The state government contends that these internal conflicts have led to unauthorised attempts to sell the institution's land and assets, valued at approximately Rs 2,400 crore, for personal gain.
The bill states that such actions could undermine the very purpose for which the institution was established and could lead to the destruction of its movable and immovable properties.
During the Assembly session, Congress MLA B.B. Batra raised strong objections, arguing that the bill was unconstitutional and beyond the jurisdiction of the Haryana government. He asserted that the society governing the ashram was registered in Delhi, not Haryana, and that any legal authority to intervene lay with the Delhi government.
He also warned that the legislation could be challenged in court, which would bring criticism upon lawmakers for enacting it.
Responding to these concerns, Chief Minister Nayab Singh emphasised that the bill was in full compliance with central government laws and due legal process. He reassured the Assembly that the state government was not bypassing any legal framework in assuming temporary control over the institution.
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Minister Rao Narbir Singh further clarified that the bill was introduced under Article 31-A of the Constitution and that the government was not claiming ownership of the society or the institution but merely appointing an administrator to oversee its management.
Aparna Ashram was founded by Dhirendra Brahmachari, a prominent yoga guru who played a key role in popularising yoga in India. Brahmachari registered a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, with its headquarters in New Delhi. Additionally, he established Aparna Ashram as a distinct entity with its own governing council.
To support the ashram’s development, he acquired over 24 acres of land in Gurugram, using donations, government grants, and financial aid received from the central government.
The institution, located near Sector 30 in Gurugram, was intended to promote yoga education, research, and training for the benefit of the public.
The state government contends that the ongoing disputes within the society threaten the integrity and mission of the ashram. It argues that external interference and legal battles over control of the land have hindered the institution’s ability to function as originally intended.
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By assuming temporary management, the government aims to safeguard the institution’s assets and ensure its operations align with its founding objectives.
As the bill was debated in the Assembly, Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda also voiced his dissatisfaction with the government's justification for the takeover.
He questioned why the government had not pursued other legal avenues, such as attaching the land under existing laws. In protest, Congress legislators staged a walkout, expressing their opposition to the legislation and the government's handling of the matter.
Despite the pushback, the Haryana government maintained that the takeover was necessary to prevent the misappropriation of assets and to protect the ashram’s original mission.
With the passage of the bill, the state is now set to appoint an administrator to oversee the institution’s affairs and ensure its continued operation in accordance with its intended purpose.
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