“You cannot let an army or police into an establishment like this.” – Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of India has recently restrained Tamil Nadu police from proceeding with any action against the Isha Foundation, a spiritual organisation led by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. The decision followed the foundation’s application for an urgent hearing, wanting to challenge the Madras High Court’s order for investigation against it. The case entails allegations concerning unlawful detaining and maltreatment, drawing considerable public interest.
The facts of the case indicate that a habeas corpus petition was filed by the petitioners, a retired professor from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, arguing for the release of two daughters aged 42 and 39. He alleged that his daughters, who had been detained and brainwashed at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, were being held in unlawful custody. Although the daughters appeared before the court and gave incriminating testimonies stating that they were staying at the ashram voluntarily, the Madras High Court ordered further investigation, taking into consideration the allegation so grave as illegal confinement, also covering a POCSO case filed against a doctor associated with the foundation.
Allegations Against Isha Foundation
While the petitioner’s grievances encompassed some issues with the family, some of them were somewhat disturbing. Dr Kamaraj alleged that the Isha Foundation was brainwashing people, thereby coercing them into becoming monks and keeping them away from their families. The Madras High Court order sparked a major police operation, with about 150 officers investigating an ashram where around 5,000 people lived.
This is not the Isha Foundation’s first involvement in litigation. Since 2016, several cases, ranging from missing persons reports to illegal activity allegations, have been brought to the court’s attention against the organisation.
Supreme Court’s Intervention
On October 3, 2024, a bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, heard a petition from the Isha Foundation that Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi represented. Rohatgi argued that the police inquiry directed by the Madras High Court had exceeded the bounds of reason, mainly since the two women had already gone on record to say that they had voluntarily stayed at the ashram. Moreover, Rohatgi pointed out that a similar habeas corpus petition filed eight years earlier by the woman’s mother had been dismissed because the women confirmed that they voluntarily chose to stay at the ashram.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court stayed the Tamil Nadu police investigation and transferred the habeas corpus petition to the Supreme Court. The court also ordered the Tamil Nadu police to submit a status report and set October 18, 2024, as the next date for hearing the case.
Isha Foundation’s Response
The foundation has categorically rejected all allegations, asserting that it operates legally and respects residents’ freedoms. According to Sadhguru and his team, the police raid was excessive, and the foundation was unfairly singled out for hardships. In the Supreme Court, Rohatgi stressed that restraint was needed, with the words, “You cannot allow an army or police raid on an esteemed institution of this kind,” principally directing attention to the chaos during the peaceful spiritual center operation launched by the police.
The Supreme Court’s transfer of the petition to itself as the case develops appears to imply that its supervision of this case may have far-reaching consequences involving individual liberty and institutional activities. The Isha Foundation, which is globally popular and established a demanding social and environmental outreach program, is still involved in such serious litigation.
This case exemplifies the fine line between legal supervision and the independence of religious and spiritual organisations within India. The deft balance thus struck between legal supervision and the independence of spiritual and religious organisations will keep developing as the Supreme Court progresses further into the facts. The critical question that remains is how the hearing on October 18 will impact not only the Isha Foundation but also similar institutions working within India.
