Girls illegally kept in spiritual institute,HC orders inspection

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ordered immediate inspection of an institute here where girls and women were allegedly kept in illegal confinement in the name of religious preaching.

The court directed an officer, not below the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, to conduct an inspection of the Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya in Rohini on Tuesday itself and said this should be video-graphed.

Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal was also asked to accompany police during the inspection. The court also asked Dev Dixit, referred to as the founder and spiritual head of the institute, to cooperate with police during the drive.

The court issued notice to the Central government, the Delhi government and the police while asking them to file a status report on the issue.

It referred to a similar situation witnessed in Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan’s ashram in Haryana’s Sirsa.

The court’s order came on a plea filed by NGO Foundation for Social Empowerment, which said that several minors and women were allegedly being illegally confined there and are not allowed to meet their parents.

IANS