New Delhi, April 27 -- The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Gujarat government not to take any coercive action against land and properties held by the ashram of self-styled 'godman' and rape convict Asaram Bapu in Ahmedabad.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta ordered the government to maintain the status quo and said that the municipal authorities' show-cause notice "prima facie lacked material particulars".

Justice Mehta told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the Gujarat government, that prima facie it appears that notices were not served to the Sant Shri Asharam Trust, which manages the ashram.

Solicitor General responded that there were several violations of the lease conditions and encroachment o...