To escape marriage, inmates chose to stay at Rohini Ashram

To evade marriage and escape from the clutches of their parents, the inmates at the Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya at Rohini's Vijay Vihar area, being run by self styled Godman, voluntarily chose to stay in the Ashram, the Delhi High Court has been informed in an over 1300-page reply submitted by Amol Kokane, counsel for the Ashram.

The replies, copy of which is with DNA, have mentioned that the metal gates are constructed due to security threats to the inmates due to several raids conducted in the past at the behest of parents who want to take their daughters and get them married.

"It is further submitted that many spinsters joined Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya at Vijay Vihar, after 2000 and in some cases their parents and relatives who wanted to get them married, forcibly by colluding with the local police and goons, created serious apprehensions to the safety of spinsters and mothers residing there,"the reply stated.

It further added that at several instances raids were conducted to take the inmates forcibly by their parents. But the police and the local administration have failed to provide protection to the females and no FIRs have been registered despite several complaints.

The reply said that the present litigation is an aftermath of the various complaints by the inmates of the Vidyalaya against the authorities of Prajapita Brahmakumari and petitioner Seema Sharma, in connivance with the media advisors of Brahmakumari, has filed the petition to defame them.

The voluminous reply by the Ashram comes on a PIL filed by NGO, Foundation for Social Empowerment, who had alleged that girls are illegally confined at the institution in the garb of imparting spiritual knowledge.

The Delhi High Court had entrusted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to look into the allegations that the inmates were kept in animal-like conditions behind the metal doors in a "fortress". The HC also directed the CBI to ascertain the whereabouts of the self-styled Godman and produce him before it.                                                                                                  

The reply also quashed the allegations that the girls are scared and are under constant fear which is the reason they do not depose against the Baba. It said that the"love and remembrance of God by his children is one kind of intoxication".