The Gujarat High Court has issued notice on a petition by Asaram Bapu seeking modification or deletion of a bail condition that requires three police officials to be constantly present in his vicinity during the six-month period for which his life sentence has been suspended. The application comes in the wake of the High Court’s earlier order granting him a six-month suspension of sentence on medical grounds, in a 2013 rape conviction case.
When the Court had first granted the suspension, it imposed several conditions: Asaram was prohibited from meeting his followers in groups, and the presence of the three police officials was mandated “in the form of security personnel in the vicinity of the applicant.” That condition was framed to ensure surveillance while not interfering with his medical treatment or lawful interactions.
In the application now before the Court, Asaram argues that this continuous police presence is onerous or unnecessarily intrusive. During the latest hearing, a division bench expressed openness to reconsidering whether this attendance should remain “round the clock.” The Court asked counsels to reflect on the necessity of such stringent surveillance and indicated that it may be willing to recalibrate the supervision requirement.
The High Court set the matter down for further proceedings and listed a return date. Notice has been made returnable on December 1, 2025. The Advocate-Public Prosecutor (APP) for the State waived formal service of the notice, meaning the State will respond without delay.
Asaram’s bail was granted after the Court weighed medical reports indicating serious health issues. His counsel had argued that his advanced age and deteriorating condition warranted temporary suspension of his life sentence so that he could receive appropriate treatment outside prison. The Court found those submissions persuasive enough to grant six months’ relief under strict conditions.
By taking up this modification request, the High Court is now evaluating whether the security condition imposed earlier aligns with the current balance between risk and humanitarian consideration. The Court’s willingness to invite re-thinking of “round-the-clock” police surveillance suggests it is open to amending bail conditions when justified, especially in cases involving serious health issues.
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