Written by Sanika Deshpande
The Osho International Foundation, on Monday, appealed to the Supreme Court seeking an urgent listing of its pending case, stating a complete lack of funds, which is “paralysing its charitable activities whilst also causing irreparable harm to the trust’s beneficiaries.”
The case was last heard on November 11, when the court ordered that the existing interim stay on the Bombay High Court’s impugned order would continue. The matter was scheduled to be listed again after two weeks, but has not been taken up since.
The current legal proceedings stem from a long-standing dispute involving the administration of the Osho International Foundation, responsible for the activities, assets, and intellectual legacy linked to their spiritual leader Osho.
The controversy involves the plans of the Osho Foundation to sell two plots of its land to industrialist Rajiv Bajaj for 107 crore. Another faction has opposed the sale calling an infringement of the legacy left by the spiritual leader. Their opposition has stalled the sale with the Bombay High Court upholding the Charity Commissioner’s stay on the move and ordering a special audit of the foundation’s accounts.
Since August 2024, when the apex court issued a notice and granted an interim stay on the High Court’s ruling, the issue has been unresolved, with the Foundation claiming that the legal ambiguity has severely affected its capacity to function properly and fulfil its charitable obligations.
As per the appeal filed by the foundation, services and pleadings stand completed.
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In its recent request, the Foundation stated that it is facing a complete lack of funds, which has “paralysed its ability to operate and fulfil its charitable mission.” The trust contended that the prolonged waiting of the case is causing “irreparable harm” to both its beneficiaries and its overall functioning.
The trust has refused to speak on the matter as of now, citing the ongoing nature of the case. “This matter is pending in SC for a final hearing, and so it is subjudice”.
