The Madras High Court, yesterday, dismissed a plea to revoke the Padma Vibhushan Award given to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, upholding that the award adhered to established norms and procedures. The Bench confirmed that judicial intervention was unnecessary, stating the award’s conferment underwent thorough vetting by intelligence agencies. This ruling emphasizes the judiciary’s respect for government discretion regarding national honors and reinforces the importance of procedural integrity.
Madras: Yesterday, the Madras High Court dismissed a plea seeking the revocation of the Padma Vibhushan Award conferred on spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. The court ruled that the award’s conferment followed the established norms, thereby denying the relief sought in the petition.
The Bench, comprising Chief Justice KR Shriram and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, expressed that it was satisfied with the adherence to the award’s criteria and confirmed that there was no scope for judicial intervention in the matter. The Bench had previously questioned the maintainability of the plea, observing that the Padma awards’ conferment process might lie outside judicial review.
The petitioner argued that the award should be revoked in light of various legal cases and criminal allegations against Sadhguru and his foundation. According to the petitioner, these issues ran counter to the honor’s spirit, as the Padma Vibhushan is intended for individuals of “exceptional and distinguished service” to the nation. He claimed that the Centre overlooked multiple cases pending against Vasudev, including allegations of unauthorized construction by his organization.
The petitioner also cited a recent habeas corpus petition from a concerned parent, alleging that two women volunteering for Sadhguru’s foundation were being “brainwashed” and pressured into monkhood.
Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan, representing the Union government, argued that the award was bestowed after a rigorous vetting process, which included checks by intelligence agencies. Sundaresan assured the court that at the time of consideration, no adverse reports were submitted about Vasudev, thereby affirming the due diligence carried out by the Centre.
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After hearing both parties, the court concluded that the award to Sadhguru was properly granted, underscoring that it was satisfied with the procedural integrity. Thus, the court dismissed the plea, highlighting that the matter did not warrant judicial intervention.
The Padma Vibhushan is India’s second-highest civilian award and is intended for individuals who have rendered exceptional service in various fields. This case sheds light on the judiciary’s respect for the government’s discretion in matters of national honors, while also affirming the requirement for a rigorous vetting process to uphold the integrity of prestigious awards like the Padma Vibhushan.
This decision is likely to reinforce the importance of established procedures and due diligence in recognizing contributions at the national level, while limiting judicial review on such honors except under extraordinary circumstances.
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