Big Relief To Isha Foundation: SC Stays Madras HC Order Allowing Police Probe On Sadhguru's Ashram

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud passed the order after interacting with two women, who were allegedly brainwashed and detained by the foundation

In a big relief to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Foundation, the Supreme Court on Thursday put a stay on Madras High Court's order that sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government on all criminal cases registered against him and the foundation. 

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, sought to inquire about the details from two women whose father had moved the high court alleging illegal confinement at the Isha Foundation. The judges of the bench went into chambers to interact with the two women--who were allegedly brainwashed and detained by the foundation--in private through video-conferencing about facts of the case. "We stay the directions of the High Court to the police," the Court said.

 

The court also condemned the police action after a strong contingent of around 150 police personnel and government officials inspected the foundation's Yoga Centre in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore on Tuesday. 'Police and army personnel cannot enter a place like that', the court said.

 

The court took up the case after senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the foundation, sought an urgent hearing from the top court, with the Centre responding in favour of it. "These are issues of religious freedom. This is a very urgent and serious case. This is about Isha Foundation, there is Sadguru who is very revered and has lakhs of followers. High Court cannot start such enquiries on oral assertions," he stated.

 

Isha Foundation came under the scrutiny of the Madras HC after retired professor Dr S. Kamaraj claimed that his two “well-educated", married daughters, aged 42 and 39, had been “brainwashed” to reside at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. Kamaraj told the High Court that authorities at the Foundation did not permit them to maintain any contact with their families. He also mentioned that several criminal cases and allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct are pending against the Foundation. 

 

Taking note of these claims, the high court raised questions about the lifestyle promoted by Sadhguru. “We want to know why a person who had given his daughter in marriage and made her settle well in life is encouraging the daughters of others to tonsure their heads and live the life of a hermitess. That is the doubt,” the Bench orally remarked.