Students, alumni protest move to sell 65-year-old Jain hostel land in Pune’s Model Colony

Organised by the Sakal Jain Samaj, Pune, the massive protest began at the HND Hostel premises and concluded at the Pune Collector’s Office. Under the guidance of Acharya Shri Gurmendraji Gurudev, the march saw participation from students, alumni, and families representing different Jain sects.

The controversy erupted after trustees of the hostel reportedly negotiated the property, including an adjoining temple, to a private builder, Gokhale Constructions, for Rs 311 crore.

Community members submitted a memorandum to the collector, urging the charity commissioner to reconsider the permission granted earlier this year that allowed the hostel trust to sell about three acres of land to a private developer. The permission, they said, has triggered widespread discontent among alumni and students who view the move as a deviation from the hostel’s founding purpose.

Trustees have reportedly justified the sale by citing financial strain and the need for long-term sustainability. However, alumni networks argue that redevelopment — not liquidation — is the solution, and that the land’s value should benefit future students, not private developers.

Protesters have called the move a “betrayal” of the trust’s charitable mandate, and demanded immediate intervention from the Maharashtra charity commissioner.

Protesters have called the sale a “betrayal” of the trust’s charitable mandate, and demanded immediate intervention from the Maharashtra charity commissioner. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)

“This land was donated for the welfare of students, not for commercial sale,” said a protester voicing concerns. “If this goes through, it will destroy the very purpose for which the institution was created. The sale, if approved, would mark the end of the hostel’s operations in its current form.”

Protesters alleged that the decision was taken without consulting the broader community or obtaining approval from the charity commissioner, as required by law for trust properties.

The 65-year-old institution, the protesters said, has been a cornerstone of educational support for Jain students across India. Alumni describe it as more than just a hostel — a cultural and spiritual anchor for the community.

Established in 1960, the HND Jain Hostel has provided affordable accommodation and holistic development opportunities to thousands of students, many of whom have gone on to become civil servants, doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, and entrepreneurs.

The trust chairman Chakore L Doshi defended the proposed sale. “The decision to sell the trust’s land parcel has been made for the benefit of the trust and to fulfill its charitable and educational objectives more effectively. All decisions regarding trust management are the exclusive right and authority of the trust committee. The accusations that this sale violates the trust’s objectives are completely baseless and lacking in evidence,” Doshi said.

He added that the trust had followed all legal procedures, including filing applications with the Charity Commissioner, and accused “pressure groups and NGOs” of creating unnecessary controversy to mislead the Jain community. “The trust has no intention of closing the hostel,” he said, claiming the redevelopment would instead enable better service to students through improved infrastructure.

Neha Rathod is an intern with The Indian Express

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