New Delhi: In a huge relief for spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev, the Supreme Court Friday closed the proceedings in an illegal confinement against Isha Foundation following statements from two women who said they are voluntarily residing at the organisation’s ashram without coercion. The habeas corpus petition was filed by a man who had alleged that his two daughters were held captive inside the ashram’s premises at Coimbatore.
While closing the matter, a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud pulled up the Madras High Court for ordering a police investigation based on the habeas corpus (produce the body) plea. "These proceedings cannot be to malign people and malign institutions," the Chief Justice remarked during the hearing.
On October 3, the top court had effectively halted the police probe in the case and transferring to itself the habeas corpus petition which was filed before the high court. The top court also 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 Supreme Court had passed the order after the Isha Foundation approached it challenging the high court's order directing the Coimbatore Police to collect all case details registered against the Foundation and produce them before the court for further consideration.
The case lingered in the court despite the statements from the two women affirming they were free to leave.
During the hearing today, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Isha Foundation, informed the top court that the women had voluntarily joined the ashram when they were 24 and 27 years old and are in regular contact with their parents.
"The women even participated in public events, like a 10 km marathon, and are in regular contact with their parents," Rohatgi said.
Chief Justice Chandrachud, after a virtual interaction with the two women, said that the women have clearly expressed their voluntary stay at the Isha Foundation. "Once that is established, no further direction is needed in this habeas corpus case," he said.
The Supreme Court, however, clarified that its ruling only pertained to the habeas corpus plea and that it would not interfere with any ongoing police investigations, which the state is free to pursue.
Welcoming the verdict, Sadhguru said that it was unfortunate that the Highest Court of the Land "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".