The Gujarat High Court delivered a divided ruling on Friday on Asaram’s plea for temporary bail, leading to a split verdict. The 86-year-old self-styled godman, convicted of rape in 2013 and serving a life sentence, had sought six months' bail for a 90-day Panchkarma therapy—an Ayurvedic treatment regimen.
Justice Sandeep Bhatt, in his dissenting opinion, raised concerns that the plea was merely an attempt to extend an interim bail previously granted by the Supreme Court on medical grounds earlier this year. He pointed out that despite being free from January 7 to March 31, Asaram did not fully utilize this time for treatment. "Though the applicant visited several medical facilities, both allopathic and Ayurvedic, between January 28 and February 19, 2025, follow-up treatments were conspicuously absent," Justice Bhatt observed. To him, this suggested that Asaram was more interested in prolonging his temporary freedom rather than genuinely addressing his health issues.
On the other hand, Justice Ilesh J. Vora granted him three months of bail, considering Asaram’s advanced age and serious health conditions, including ischemic heart disease and hypothyroidism. Justice Vora stressed the importance of medical care, stating that “the health condition of a human being is paramount,” as protected under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. He relied on medical board recommendations that underscored the need for specialized treatment.
The stark contrast in opinions means the case will now be referred to the Chief Justice, who will assign a third judge to settle the matter. With Asaram’s past conviction and the debate over the actual necessity of medical bail, the final decision is bound to be closely watched.
AdvoTalks : Justice Gets Easy - YouTube
AdvoTalks : Justice Gets Easy - YouTube
