In a big relief for Sadhguru, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a Habeus Corpus petition against the Isha Foundation, which accused the spiritual leader's ashram of holding captive two women. The petition, filed by Dr S Kamaraj, a retired professor, alleged that his two daughters, Geetha, 42, and Latha, 39, had been "brainwashed" into joining Sadhguru's ashram in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore, and have been denied contact with their family.
Dismissing the case, a three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that the Madras High Court - which ordered an inquiry into the habeas corpus petition- acted in a "completely inappropriate" manner and had "exceeded jurisdiction" by not closing proceedings after the two women said they were living there voluntarily.
The top court noted that since neither of the women were minors (they were reportedly 27 and 24 when they joined the ashram) and that the purpose of the habeas corpus petition was fulfilled by their appearing in the High Court, "no further directions were needed" from that judicial forum. Notably, a habeas corpus petition is filed seeking direction to produce before the court a person who is missing or has been illegally detained.
Unfortunate That Supreme Court Is Forced To Waste Its Valuable Time: Sadhguru
Sadhguru welcomed the apex court verdict stating, "We welcome the verdict of the Highest Court of the Land. It is most unfortunate that the Supreme Court is forced to waste its valuable time hearing frivolous petitions filed with malafide intent when there are innumerable genuine cases that need the Court’s attention. Time we learn to use the privileges of Democracy more responsibly. -Sg"
Earlier, during the hearing of the case, the Supreme Court bench had interacted with the two women online from their chambers. After the interaction, CJI Chandrachud noted that the women told the court that they had been living in the ashram of their own will.
“These proceedings cannot be to malign people and malign institutions,” the bench also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said.
The Supreme Court, however, asserted that the closure of habeas corpus proceedings would not affect any other regulatory compliance which Isha Yoga Centre has to meet. It noted that when women and minors are in an institution, there needs to be an internal complaint committee.
The bench also noted that in pursuance of its October 3 order, the police had submitted a status report before it. The bench observed it would be unnecessary for the apex court to expand upon the ambit of these proceedings which arises from a habeas corpus petition which was initially filed before the Madras High Court.
On October 3, the top court effectively halted the police probe into the alleged illegal confinement of two women at the Foundation's ashram at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Transferring to itself the habeas corpus petition which was filed before the high court, the top court had directed the Tamil Nadu Police to not take any further action in pursuance of the high court's direction asking it to inquire into the alleged illegal confinement of the women.
The order of the apex court came after the Isha Foundation approached it saying that a police team of about 150 officers entered the Ashram for investigation following Madras High Court's directions.