The Osho International Foundation has made an urgent appeal to the Supreme Court of India, seeking an immediate listing of its long-pending case. The trust has cited a severe financial crisis that has brought its charitable operations to a standstill and is causing significant harm to its beneficiaries.
Legal Stalemate and Financial Paralysis
In a plea filed recently, the foundation stated it is facing a complete lack of funds. This situation has paralyzed its ability to function and fulfil its core charitable mission. The trust argues that the prolonged delay in resolving its case is inflicting irreparable harm on both its operations and those who depend on its services.
The core of the legal battle is a contentious plan by the Osho Foundation to sell two plots of its land to noted industrialist Rajiv Bajaj for Rs 107 crore. This proposed sale has been fiercely opposed by another faction within the trust's administration. The opposing group claims the sale infringes upon the legacy of the spiritual leader Osho, whose assets and intellectual property the foundation manages.
A Timeline of the Dispute
The controversy has a long history. The Bombay High Court had previously upheld a stay order from the Charity Commissioner on the proposed land sale. The High Court also directed a special audit of the foundation's accounts. However, in August 2024, the Supreme Court stepped in, issuing a notice and granting an interim stay on the High Court's ruling.
The case was last heard by the Supreme Court on November 11. At that time, the court ordered that the existing interim stay on the Bombay High Court's order would continue. The matter was expected to be listed again after two weeks but has not been taken up since, leaving the foundation in a state of legal and financial limbo.
Implications and Current Status
The foundation contends that this ongoing legal ambiguity has critically hampered its normal functioning and its capacity to meet its charitable obligations for over a year. According to its appeal, all necessary services and legal pleadings in the case are complete, and it now awaits a final hearing.
When approached for comment, representatives of the trust declined to elaborate, stating that the matter remains sub judice as it is pending final hearing before the Supreme Court. The urgent listing plea underscores the deepening operational crisis within the foundation, which is directly tied to the unresolved dispute over the management of its significant assets.
