Vadodara Garba Controversy: Advocate Slams ₹1 Ground Allotment, Citing Breach of Public Trust, red eye against organizers' huge earnings and extortion in the name of 'donations'

VADODARA – An advocate has formally challenged the Vadodara Municipal Corporation's (VMC) policy of allotting city-owned grounds to Garba organizers for a token rent of just ₹1, calling it an "ethically and financially indefensible" practice that enables opaque private profiteering at public expense.

In a detailed representation-cum-objection dated September 2, 2025, Advocate Rahul Vasudevbhai Vyas has urged the Mayor, Municipal Commissioner, and District Collector to overhaul the system, arguing it compromises the core principles of transparency, fairness, and the spiritual values of Navratri.

The Core of the Conflict: Public Land, Private Profit; The objection, sparked by press reports, highlights a stark contradiction: while prime public property, maintained by taxpayer money, is handed over for a nominal fee, organizers are allegedly charging citizens hefty entry fees, often mischaracterized as "donations".

Vyas argues that this arrangement betrays the public trust, where municipal assets should be managed for the maximum benefit of all citizens. "When public property is placed at virtually no cost at the disposal of private organisers, who then charge the public... the arrangement risks undermining both the sanctity of the celebration and the public trust reposed in municipal governance," the letter states.

The objection points out the use of practices like issuing color-coded passes with varying, unprinted prices, which could amount to an unfair trade practice and prevents any real financial accountability.

An Appeal to Ethics and Moral Principles: At its heart, the objection is an appeal to uphold the ethics and moral principles inherent in Navratri. Vyas, who identifies as a devotee, contends that if the events are supported by the state as spiritual celebrations (evidenced by the ₹1 rent), then access should not be transactional. "Equity and moral principle require that entry for citizens be free, or at the very least not conditioned on mandatory payments masked as 'donations'," the document asserts, calling the practice a "contradiction in terms". The current model, he argues, commercializes a sacred tradition and risks excluding economically weaker sections, directly contradicting the inclusive values that Navratri embodies.

A Demand for Transparency and Two Lawful Paths Forward: The letter firmly demands a new framework built on transparency and accountability, presenting two clear and distinct models for the VMC to adopt:

1. The Non-Commercial/Spiritual Model: Keep the ₹1 token rent, but mandate free entry for all citizens across VMC grounds. Any donations collected must be purely voluntary and subjected to a transparent, third-party audit. This model prioritizes the spiritual and community aspect of the festival.
2. The Commercial Model: If entry fees are to be charged, the VMC must treat the event as a commercial venture. This would involve a transparent e-auction of grounds to generate market-based revenue for the city, which could then be used to improve civic amenities or lower property taxes. This model would require organizers to have mandatory price caps, full GST compliance, and digital ticketing.

Vyas has requested an immediate suspension of the current allotments, full public disclosure of the terms, and a formal inquiry into the tax compliance of organizers. He concludes with a warning that should the authorities fail to act, he is prepared to seek legal remedy in the Gujarat High Court in the public interest. The authorities have yet to issue a formal response.