"You Can't Let In An Army Of Police Into Establishment Like This": Supreme Court Stays Madras HC's Direction Against Isha Foundation, Transfers Case To Itself

The Supreme Court today stayed the Madras High Court order that directed the state to produce details of criminal cases against the Isha Foundation amid allegations of brainwashing and converting people into monks. "You can't let in an army of police into an establishment like this", said CJI Chandradachud during the hearing.

The Bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra also transferred the further proceedings in the case to itself.

The matter was taken up after Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Isha Foundation, mentioned the matter for urgent mentioning.

At the outset, Rohatgi submitted, "Sadhguru has an institution in Coimbatore called the Isha Foundation, which has 5000 people living there. Originally, there are two ladies who are there, who have been living their for 15 years now. First the mother filed habeas corpus some 8 years ago, alleging that they have been taken away. These ladies appeared, they were 30 years of age. They said that they have been living their lives of their own accord. That habeas corpus was disposed of."

Rohatgi further submitted that after 8 years, the father has now filed another habeas corpus petition. He argued that the father has filed the petition on the same grounds for the same daughters. "The two ladies appeared before the High Court and made a statement that they are living there and they have renounced the world. They are monks now. They are educated, they are engineers," the Senior Advocate submitted.

Rohatgi told the Court that the father of these two ladies suspects that people in this complex are being brainwashed. He argued that the High Court noted this as a serious statement and has ordered a police investigation into the foundation. He further submitted that there are 150 police officials in the ashram since yesterday, examining every room and every person.

After interacting with the two lady monks, in chamber through video conferencing, the Court issued the stay order, also transferred the case from the High Court to the Supreme Court.

During the mentioning, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra appeared for the State of Tamil Nadu police, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for Union.

Pertinently, on September 30, the Madras High Court had directed the Tamil Nadu government to provide information regarding all criminal cases registered against Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation.

The Division Bench of Justice S.M. Subramaniam and Justice V. Sivagnanam had noted the seriousness of the allegations and the testimonies presented during the proceedings.

The Court had stated, “The learned counsel for the petitioner would also submit that there are several other criminal cases registered and allegations are pending. In view of the serious nature of the allegations raised against the institution and the way and the manner in which the detenues have spoken before us, we could form an opinion that some more deliberations are required to understand the truth behind the allegations. Therefore, the petitioner shall produce the details of criminal cases registered against the institution and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor also shall collect all those case details and place before us for further consideration.”