Haryana Government Assumes Management and Control of Aparna Institution for Public Interest

The Haryana Government has enacted The Aparna Institution (Taking Over of Management and Control) Act, 2025, a legislative instrument designed to assume, in the public interest, the management and control of the Aparna Institution for a limited period. The Act, designated Haryana Act No. 24 of 2025, received the assent of the President of India on August 27, 2025, and was subsequently published in the Official Gazette on November 20, 2025, the date on which it came into force. This legislation was introduced to ensure the proper and efficient management and control of the Aparna Institution, located in Village Silokhra, District Gurugram, Haryana, along with all matters connected therewith and incidental thereto. Upon its publication, the management, control, and possession of the Institution's property, which includes land ad-measuring 24 acres 16 marlas and all existing buildings and other related assets, vested in the Government for an initial period of ten years. Consequently, all individuals previously responsible for the Institution's management and control ceased to exercise their authority and were deemed to have vacated their offices. The Act specifies that the Government may extend this period of management for up to five years at a time, if deemed necessary for securing proper and efficient management and further development.

Under the provisions of the new Act, the Government is mandated to appoint an Administrator to manage the Institution on its behalf, with the Administrator exercising the powers previously held by the Institution's Authority or Governing Council, notwithstanding anything contained in the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The Administrator is empowered to take instructions from the Government regarding management and development, and with prior written approval, may appoint other persons for the Institution's conduct and management. Furthermore, the Act provides for the constitution of a committee to assist the Administrator in ensuring proper and efficient management. It also enables the Government to provide grants or advances to the Institution for managing its affairs and development. A critical provision of the legislation requires every person in possession, custody, or control of any property or documents related to the Institution to deliver them to the Administrator or an authorised officer. The legislation provided: “AN ACT to provide for the taking over, in the public interest, for a limited period, for proper and efficient management and control of Aparna Institution situated within the revenue estate of Village Silokhra, District Gurugram, falling within the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Haryana, and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.” The Act also includes provisions for cancelling or varying contracts, transfers, leases, or agreements found to have been entered into in bad faith or detrimental to the Institution's interests, after providing a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the parties involved. Penalties, including imprisonment up to five years or a fine up to fifty thousand rupees, or both, are prescribed for wrongful withholding of assets, documents, or failure to furnish inventories.

The legislative intent behind The Aparna Institution (Taking Over of Management and Control) Act, 2025, is rooted in the policy rationale of ensuring the public interest through proper and efficient administration of the Institution. The Act implicitly addresses perceived issues or limitations within the earlier statutory framework or the previous management structure of the Aparna Institution, which necessitated government intervention. By vesting control in the Government, the Act aims to rectify any deficiencies and promote the Institution's stated aims and objectives. These objectives are broad and focus on public welfare, including making yoga more popular through education, research, training, and dissemination to improve health and vigour, and cure diseases. The Institution also aims to educate people in the art and science of yoga, undertake practical courses, teach healthy living, eradicate injurious habits such as the consumption of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and other spurious drugs, and promote mental well-being. Further goals include fostering self-purity, universal brotherhood, peace, and spiritual values, organizing conferences, publishing literature on yoga, and providing assistance or scholarships. The Act establishes new obligations for former management to cooperate with the takeover and new powers for the appointed Administrator. It also introduces enforcement mechanisms through specific offences and penalties for non-compliance, ensuring adherence to the new management regime. The Act explicitly states its overriding effect, meaning its provisions will prevail over any inconsistencies found in other laws or instruments, thereby establishing a clear legal pathway for the government's intervention.

Keywords: Haryana, Aparna Institution, Management Takeover, Public Interest, Yoga Education, Government Control, Gurugram, Legislative Act, Administrator Appointment, Societies Registration Act

Geo Tags: India, Haryana District: Gurugram