The Supreme Court has issued a stay on the Madras High Court's order directing a probe into Isha Foundation. The case involves allegations of brainwashing and criminal complaints against the spiritual organization.
Coimbatore: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a stay on the Madras High Court's directions for a probe into Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Foundation. This decision came after the foundation approached the apex court challenging the High Court's order that had directed the Tamil Nadu government to submit details of all criminal cases registered against the organization.
"We stay the directions of the High Court to the police," the Supreme Court stated. The stay was granted following a mention of the matter by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
Rohatgi argued, "These are issues of religious freedom. This is a very urgent and serious case. This is about Isha Foundation, there is Sadhguru who is very revered and has lakhs of followers. High Court cannot start such enquiries on oral assertions."
The Madras High Court's order was issued in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by S Kamaraj, a retired professor from Coimbatore. Kamaraj alleged that his two "well-educated daughters," aged 42 and 39, had been "brainwashed" into residing at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. He claimed that the Foundation authorities did not allow them to maintain contact with their families.
Kamaraj also informed the High Court about several criminal cases and allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct pending against the Foundation. The High Court, considering the multiple criminal complaints, deemed the issue worthy of further investigation.
The High Court had also expressed doubts about why Vasudev, who had given his own daughter in marriage and helped her settle in life, was encouraging other women to renounce their material life. The bench orally remarked, "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."
These observations led to the High Court passing directions against Isha Foundation, prompting the appeal to the Supreme Court. The case highlights the complex interplay between religious practices, personal freedom, and legal scrutiny in India.
As the Supreme Court has now stayed the High Court's order, further developments in this case are awaited. The matter is likely to raise important questions about the balance between spiritual organizations' rights and individual freedoms.
"We stay the directions of the High Court to the police," the Supreme Court stated. The stay was granted following a mention of the matter by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
Rohatgi argued, "These are issues of religious freedom. This is a very urgent and serious case. This is about Isha Foundation, there is Sadhguru who is very revered and has lakhs of followers. High Court cannot start such enquiries on oral assertions."
The Madras High Court's order was issued in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by S Kamaraj, a retired professor from Coimbatore. Kamaraj alleged that his two "well-educated daughters," aged 42 and 39, had been "brainwashed" into residing at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. He claimed that the Foundation authorities did not allow them to maintain contact with their families.
Kamaraj also informed the High Court about several criminal cases and allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct pending against the Foundation. The High Court, considering the multiple criminal complaints, deemed the issue worthy of further investigation.
The High Court had also expressed doubts about why Vasudev, who had given his own daughter in marriage and helped her settle in life, was encouraging other women to renounce their material life. The bench orally remarked, "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."
These observations led to the High Court passing directions against Isha Foundation, prompting the appeal to the Supreme Court. The case highlights the complex interplay between religious practices, personal freedom, and legal scrutiny in India.
As the Supreme Court has now stayed the High Court's order, further developments in this case are awaited. The matter is likely to raise important questions about the balance between spiritual organizations' rights and individual freedoms.