Supreme Court Halts Investigation Against Isha Foundation, Citing Rights

Supreme Court halts Tamil Nadu police investigation against Isha Foundation, citing religious freedom concerns

In a significant development for the Isha Foundation, the Supreme Court of India has temporarily halted a Madras High Court order that required Tamil Nadu police to investigate various cases against the organization. This decision came after the Supreme Court took over the case, requesting the police to submit a status report, while instructing them not to take any further action as directed by the High Court.

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The controversy began when a retired professor, S. Kamaraj, filed a petition alleging that his daughters had been brainwashed into living at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. He claimed that the foundation prevented them from maintaining contact with their family. This petition prompted a swift response from the High Court, which ordered an inquiry into the allegations.

On the day of the incident, about 150 police officers entered the Isha Foundation premises in Coimbatore to conduct the investigation. This action was taken immediately after the Madras High Court sought details of all criminal cases registered against the foundation, raising concerns about the treatment of individuals within the organization.

Isha Foundation says, “Isha Foundation was founded by Sadhguru to impart yoga and spirituality to people. We believe that adult individual human beings have the freedom and the wisdom to choose their path. We do not ask people to get married or take up monkhood as these are… pic.twitter.com/nb5fTsIaGX

— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2024

 In a statement released by the foundation emphasized that the organization was established by Sadhguru to share yoga and spirituality with people around the world. He reiterated the belief that adults possess the freedom and wisdom to make their own choices about their paths in life. The foundation has firmly dismissed the allegations made by Kamaraj as baseless and unfounded.

“Isha Foundation does not pressure individuals into marriage or monastic life, these are deeply personal decisions,” the statement read. Furthermore, Isha foundation asserted that anyone spreading false information about the foundation would be dealt with according to the law.

During the Supreme Court hearing, the judges interacted with the two women at the center of the allegations. Both women confirmed that they were living at the ashram of their own accord and were not being detained. One woman stated, “We are here at Isha Yoga Centre by our own will. We have faced harassment from our father for the past eight years.”

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation, indicating that such a large police presence in the ashram was inappropriate. The court remarked, “You can’t let an army of police into an institution like this.”

As the legal proceedings continue, the Isha Foundation hopes that the court’s intervention will clarify the misunderstandings surrounding its operations and reinforce the freedom of individuals to choose their own paths. The matter is set to be heard again on October 18, providing an opportunity for further discussion and resolution.

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