Irked by the submission of the advocate of a Delhi-based ashram that women are the gateway to hell, the Delhi High Court on Monday ordered the advocate to leave the courtroom, reminding him to mind his language.
The Rohini-based Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya has been accused of illegally confining several girls and women.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar asked the counsel for the Rohini-based ashram why women and girls were kept captive in the ashram.
Responding to the court's query, the counsel cited Shankaracharya's statement, Nari nark ka dwar hai (Women are gateway to hell).
An irritated Justice Mittal told him to mind his language.
During the hearing, the court also observed that the ashram was not a 'vishwa-vidyalaya' or university as defined under the University Grants Commission Act and it cannot therefore continue to represent itself as one.
It observed that the Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya, in Rohini in North Delhi, has no legal status as it is neither a registered society nor a corporate entity according to the companies law.
The bench, however, did not pass any order directing it to stop using the expressions vishwa-vidyalaya or university after the ashram's lawyer asked that he be heard before a direction was passed.
The lawyer also said the UGC has no jurisdiction over the ashram as it is run by god through his incarnation(s) and god himself imparts the teachings.
The CBI had told the Delhi High Court that a look out circular (LOC) has been issued against Virender Dev Dixit, who allegedly kept girls and women confined at the ashram.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on February 8.
The bench was hearing a PIL in which various allegations have been made by an NGO, which has claimed that girls and women were illegally confined at the 'spiritual university' in Rohini.
