Supreme Court stays Madras High Court order against Isha Foundation, Sadhguru
Case transferred to Supreme Court
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Madras High Court's order directing police action against Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Foundation. The stay was granted after the Foundation approached the apex court challenging the High Court's direction to the Tamil Nadu government to provide details of all criminal cases registered against it.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, which issued the stay order, also transferred the case from the High Court to the Supreme Court. The decision was made after the bench interacted with two women whose father had filed a Habeas Corpus petition claiming they were being detained at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore.
The petition, filed by S Kamaraj, a retired professor, alleged that his daughters, aged 42 and 39, were “brainwashed” into residing at the ashram and were not allowed to maintain any contact with their families. During the hearing, the two women appeared before the Supreme Court and stated that they were staying at the ashram of their own free will.
The court, after noting the women’s submissions, passed the following directions:
1. The case was transferred to the Supreme Court from the Madras High Court.
2. The original petitioner was allowed to appear either virtually or through his counsel.
3. The status report of the police shall be submitted to the Supreme Court.
4. The police were directed not to take any further action in pursuance of the High Court's directions.
The stay order was passed after Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Isha Foundation, contended that such directions could not have been passed in a Habeas Corpus petition, especially when the two women had already appeared before the High Court. He argued that the matter was related to religious freedom and that the High Court could not initiate such inquiries based on oral assertions.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, supporting the Foundation’s plea, stated that the High Court should have exercised caution in the matter and highlighted the urgent need for the Supreme Court's intervention.
The Supreme Court’s order noted that the two women had interacted with the bench and affirmed their voluntary stay at the ashram. The court also noted that the police party, which had conducted a search at the ashram following the High Court's order, had left the premises.
In light of these observations, the Supreme Court stayed further police action against the Isha Foundation and transferred the case for its own adjudication.
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Delhi: Boy stabbed to death over 'controversial' social media comments, 2 juveniles held
New Delhi (PTI): A 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death at Ramleela ground in northwest Delhi for allegedly making social media comments that police described as "controversial", an official said on Wednesday.
According to the police, the assailants, also minors, attacked him with a knife, inflicting multiple stab wounds.
"A PCR call was received in the Shalimar Bagh Police Station regarding an injured boy lying in Ramleela ground. The police team reached the spot and found him with multiple stab wounds," a police officer said.
He was working as a labourer in a banquet hall for the last two days, the officer said. An FIR was registered and the police apprehended two juveniles in the case.
Preliminary investigation reveals that the deceased was stabbed due to an ongoing enmity, the officer said.
During questioning, the accused told the police that the victim had made "controversial comments" against them on social media. Following which, they intercepted him at Ramleela ground and stabbed him. He died on the spot, officer said.
"We have recovered a dagger and the victim's mobile phone. Further investigation in the case is underway," he added.
