In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India has taken over a petition originally pending before the Madras High Court, concerning allegations against the Isha Yoga Foundation run by spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. The High Court had previously directed police to investigate criminal cases registered against the foundation.
On Thursday, 3 October 2024, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud stated, “You can’t let the Army or the police into an institution like this,” as it transferred the Isha Yoga Foundation case to itself and restrained any further police action based on the High Court order. The bench also directed the police to submit a status report regarding their inquiry into the foundation.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Isha Foundation, argued that the organization has a “blemishless record.” He highlighted that two women allegedly held against their will had appeared before the Madras High Court, affirming they were there voluntarily. “We are here at the Isha Yoga Centre by our own will,“ one of the women stated during the proceedings. She also mentioned, “We told the honourable judge of the High Court that this harassment from our father’s side has been continuing for the past eight years.”
The Supreme Court bench, which included Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, indicated its intention to interact with the two women online in their chambers. Following this interaction, CJI Chandrachud confirmed, “They informed us that they were at the Isha Foundation ashram of their own will.“ The women further stated that a police presence at the ashram had lasted for two days but that the officers left on the night of 2 October 2024.
The police action commenced on Tuesday, 1 October 2024, when a contingent of around 150 officers, led by an additional superintendent of police from Coimbatore Rural Police, entered the Isha Foundation ashram to conduct inquiries. This was after a habeas corpus petition filed by Dr. S. Kamaraj, a retired professor, alleging that his two daughters, Geetha, 42, and Latha, 39, were being held captive at the foundation and brainwashed. The Madras High Court subsequently ordered the police to investigate the situation and report any criminal cases against the foundation.
During the hearings, Rohatgi emphasized that when the daughters communicated to the High Court that they were residing in the ashram voluntarily, the basis for the habeas corpus petition was nullified. He contended that the High Court should not have issued further directives after their statement. “Eight years ago, the mother of the women filed a similar habeas corpus petition, which was closed after the women stated they are staying there of their own free will,” he said.
The Supreme Court order explicitly prohibited the Tamil Nadu police from taking any further action based on the earlier directions of the High Court. “Police shall not take any further action in pursuance of directions in paragraph 4 of the High Court’s order,” the Court declared, reiterating that such institutions should remain free from undue interference.
Rohatgi raised concerns over the police’s large presence at the Isha Yoga Foundation ashram, stating, “After the High Court’s order, a police team of 150 personnel reached the ashram where over 5,000 people are staying.“ CJI Chandrachud underscored the inappropriateness of such police actions, remarking that the army or police cannot be let into an establishment as done earlier.
During the subsequent interaction with the two women, the bench learned they were not facing any coercion at the ashram and were free to travel. The women revealed that their parents had visited them on several occasions and noted that one of them had even participated in a recent 10-kilometer marathon run.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the State of Tamil Nadu, informed the Court that the police team’s visit included health officers and child welfare committee members, denying the allegations of coercion made in the petition. The Court will hear the matter next on 18 October 2024, with a directive for the police to submit their status report in the interim.
(With inputs from LiveLaw)
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