₹1 Land Scam Rocks Vadodara's Navratri - Citizen Activist Serves Legal Notice Over Decade-Long Corruption Allegation

An activist's legal notice accuses the Vadodara Municipal Corporation of enabling private profiteering on public grounds, turning a sacred festival into a commercial venture and costing the exchequer crores.

VADODARA, GUJARAT – Vadodara’s celebrated Navratri festival is embroiled in a significant controversy after the Municipal Corporation (VMC) was accused of leasing prime public grounds to private organizers for a token rent of just ₹1. The practice, alleged to be a decade-long scheme of cronyism, allows organizers to generate massive profits by charging citizens exorbitant entry fees.

A furious citizen activist, Dr. Rahul Vasudevbhai Vyas, has served a legal notice to the Mayor, Municipal Commissioner, and District Collector. The notice, dated September 20, 2025, calls the practice an "unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional" abuse of power. It follows an earlier formal objection sent on September 2, which Dr. Vyas claims was met with "deafening silence" from the authorities.

The Alleged Scheme: Public Loss for Private Gain: The legal notice details a simple yet effective modus operandi perfected over ten years:

1.  Public Asset Giveaway: The VMC allots valuable, taxpayer-funded grounds to private organizers, many with alleged ties to the ruling party, for a symbolic ₹1 rent.

2.  Commercial Exploitation: Organizers convert these public spaces into ticketed commercial events.

3.  Opaque Pricing: Entry fees are often disguised. Citizens are forced to buy "color-coded" passes (VIP, playing, viewing) with no prices printed on them and without GST-compliant invoices.

Core Allegations: A Charge Sheet Against the Administration: Dr. Vyas’s notice presents a series of grave accusations, framing the issue as a systemic failure of governance.

Abuse of Public Trust: By leasing public property for a negligible amount, the VMC is accused of violating the Public Trust Doctrine, which mandates that the state act as a trustee of public resources.

Commercialization of Faith: The notice argues that a sacred festival is being monetized, converting "devotion into an ATM machine" in flagrant violation of constitutional morality.

Suspected Tax Evasion: The lack of transparent tariffs and proper invoices suggests a massive potential for GST and income tax evasion by organizers.

Constitutional Violations: The practice is cited as a breach of Article 14 (Equality Before Law) due to arbitrary allotments and Article 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination) for the alleged practice of charging men and women different entry fees. "This conduct is arbitrary, unethical, and devoid of procedural fairness," the notice states. "The State cannot be a party to an arrangement that commodifies spirituality." Ultimatum Issued -Reform or Face Court: Dr. Vyas has given the authorities a seven-day ultimatum to take decisive action.

The demands include:

1.  Halt Allotments: Immediately freeze all ₹1 land allotments for Navratri 2025 pending a full review.

2. Implement a Fair System: The notice proposes two alternative models:

• Non-Commercial Model: Continue ₹1 rent only if entry is completely free for all citizens.
• Commercial Auction Model: Allot grounds via a transparent e-auction to the highest bidder, with conditions like capped ticket prices and mandatory tax compliance.

3.  Launch an Independent Inquiry: Constitute a probe, preferably headed by a retired High Court Judge, to investigate the financial irregularities of the past decade.

4.  Initiate Criminal Proceedings: File cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code against officials responsible for the misappropriation of public property.

Failure to comply, Dr. Vyas warned, will result in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Gujarat High Court, along with potential criminal complaints and regulatory probes.

Why It Matters: Democracy on Lease

Beyond the festival, the notice frames the issue as a critical test of public governance. It questions how public assets are captured by private players with political connections and how accountability is eroded. The controversy raises 4 fundamental questions: Who owns public land—the people, or a select few with power? Why is faith being sold as tickets? Why are the authorities silent?  And How many crores have been lost in 10+ years of ₹1 leases?  Until transparency and accountability return, Vadodara’s Garba grounds will remain symbols of how democracy itself can be rented out—cheaper than a cup of tea.

With a seven-day ultimatum issued, the VMC's response will determine whether the dispute moves to the Gujarat High Court and whether Vadodara's Garba remains a celebration of devotion or a symbol of alleged institutional decay.