The Supreme Court intervened after retired professor S. Kamaraj's habeas corpus petition claimed his daughters were illegally detained at the Isha Foundation's Yoga Centre in Coimbatore
Published Oct 03, 2024 | 3:38 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 03, 2024 | 3:38 PM
Supreme Court stays Madras High Court order against Isha Foundation
In a significant relief for Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation, the Supreme Court of India placed a stay on a Madras High Court order that mandated a report from the Tamil Nadu government regarding all criminal cases filed against the organisation and its founder.
The ruling, delivered by a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, comes amid ongoing scrutiny and allegations surrounding the foundation’s practices.
The Supreme Court intervened following a habeas corpus petition filed by retired professor S. Kamaraj, who claimed that his two daughters were being illegally detained at the Isha Foundation’s Yoga Centre in Coimbatore.
Kamaraj alleged that the women, both post-graduates in engineering, had initially joined the foundation to learn yoga but were subsequently brainwashed into staying as hermitesses. He contended that they were not allowed to meet family members, further raising concerns over their well-being.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court sought to directly interact with the two women via video conferencing to ascertain the facts of the case. After hearing their testimonies, the court issued a stay on the High Court’s directives to the police.
According to live law, during the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Isha Foundation, argued that when the daughters informed the High Court that they were residing in the Ashram of their own free will, the basis for the habeas corpus petition was effectively resolved, and the High Court should not have issued any further directives. He also noted that a similar habeas corpus petition had been filed by the women’s mother eight years ago, which was closed after the daughters clarified their voluntary decision to stay.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the State of Tamil Nadu, informed the Court that the police team that visited the Ashram included health officers and members of the child welfare committee. He denied the allegations made in the petition that police had coerced Ashram members into providing handwritten complaints.
The Supreme Court expressed disapproval of the police’s actions following a large-scale inspection of the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore conducted by a contingent of around 150 police personnel and government officials.
As per the High Court’s directive, a team led by Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police Karthikeyan, along with Social Welfare Officer Ambika and a group of more than 50 personnel, visited the Isha Yoga Centre for an extensive inspection on 1 October. The team investigated possible violations of legal and ethical norms and was expected to submit an official report on their findings to the court.
The Supreme Court bench criticised the heavy police presence, asserting, “Police and army personnel cannot enter a place like that.”
Instead, the court suggested that any investigation into the activities or individuals within the Isha Centre should be conducted by judicial authorities, rather than law enforcement agencies.
The Isha Foundation has a history of controversies, including allegations of illegal land encroachments and unauthorised constructions.
Recently, the scrutiny intensified after a doctor associated with the foundation was charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The High Court’s initial inquiry into the foundation’s practices also highlighted apparent contradictions in Jaggi Vasudev’s teachings.
For instance, the court questioned the founder’s promotion of asceticism while arranging his daughter’s marriage, prompting discussions about hypocrisy in his messages.
In response to these allegations, the Isha Foundation has maintained that it promotes yoga and spirituality while respecting individual choices. “We do not ask people to get married or take up monk hood,” Isha Foundation previously told South First.
“Isha Foundation was founded by Sadhguru to impart yoga and spirituality to people. We believe that adult individual human beings have the freedom and the wisdom to choose their path. We do not ask people to get married or take up monk hood as these are individual choices. Isha Yoga Centre is home to thousands who are not monks and a few who have taken Brahmacharya or Monk hood,” they said.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
