Supreme Court Stays Madras High Court Order to Conduct Raid on Isha Foundation Ashram

The SC made it clear that no police or military can enter into such institutions

New Delhi – A former professor from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, named S. Kamaraj, filed a petition in the Madras High Court, accusing Isha Foundation, led by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, of confining his two daughters within the ashram. Justices S. M. Subramaniam and V. Shivagnanam of the Madras High Court had pointed fingers at Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s activities and ordered the police to investigate all matters related to the Isha Foundation. Following this, on October 1, about 150 police officers conducted a raid at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore. The Supreme Court, taking note of this incident, has decided to stay the orders issued by the Madras High Court regarding the actions taken.

1. Chief Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud of the Supreme Court remarked, ” You cannot send police or military into such institutions.” He also stated that the Supreme Court will conduct an online dialogue with the two women involved in the matter in the Chief Justice’s chamber.

2. Following the Madras High Court’s orders, a team of 150 police officers, led by an officer of the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police from Tamil Nadu, conducted a raid at Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s ashram in Coimbatore.

3. Kamaraj had made serious allegations against the Isha Foundation in his petition to the court. He alleged that his two daughters, Geeta Kamaraj (42 years old) and Lata Kamaraj (39 years old), were confined in the ashram and were being forced to take sannyasa (renunciation).

4. Both women stated during the court hearing, “We were not forcibly confined in the Isha Foundation; we are voluntarily residing there.”

Editorial Perspective

With Supreme Court’s reversal of the Madras High Court’s order, the public must be wondering – Are the laws interpreted differently ?