BREAKING [Isha Foundation Row] “The 2 Daughters Are Major”: SC Dismisses Habeas Corpus Petition Against Sadhguru’s Ashram

The Supreme Court Today (Oct 18) dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by a father who claimed that his two daughters were being held against their will at the Isha Yoga Centre. The petitioner alleged that his daughters were being kept captive and subjected to “brainwashing” at the spiritual ashram run by the Isha Foundation. The Court’s decision emphasized that since “the two daughters, aged 39 years and 42 years, are major,” there was no need for further judicial intervention in this case.

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court concluded proceedings on a Habeas Corpus petition filed by a father alleging that his two daughters had been “brainwashed” into residing at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore, under the spiritual guidance of Jaggi Vasudev.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, alongside Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted that both women were adults and had clearly expressed their desire to stay at the Yoga Centre.

This fulfillment of the Habeas Corpus plea’s objective led the Court to dismiss the case.

The Court emphasized that the purpose of the plea had been satisfied after the women communicated their wishes to the Court.

“We had spoken to both the ladies and recorded. Both of them said that they are living there on free will and we need to close the habeas corpus plea,”

-remarked CJI Chandrachud, noting that the Court had spoken to the women directly during the previous hearing.

While the Habeas Corpus case was closed, the Bench clarified that this decision would not hinder any ongoing investigations by law enforcement.

“The jurisdiction of the court under Article 226 while dealing with habeas corpus is well defined, and it would be unnecessary for this court to expand the ambit. We clarify this order will not come in the way of any investigations being carried out by the police,”

-the Court stated.

In response to the father’s concerns, the Court advised him that his relationship with his adult daughters would have to evolve independently of the judicial system.

“For adult children, you have to win their confidence, and now you can see writing on the wall,”

-CJI Chandrachud remarked.

The case had gained attention after the Madras High Court was instructed to transfer the case related to the Isha Foundation and its spiritual leader, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, to the Supreme Court. On October 3, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court’s earlier directive for police action, following an urgent plea.

The High Court had previously requested the Tamil Nadu government to provide a report on all criminal cases registered against the Isha Foundation, based on the father’s allegation that his daughters, aged 42 and 39, had been “brainwashed” into staying at the Yoga Centre.

Upon interacting virtually with the two women, the Supreme Court noted their voluntary decision to reside at the ashram. While concluding the proceedings, the Court also expressed concerns about the Madras High Court’s overreach.

“We have not commented on anything other than habeas corpus, and HC too should not have done that. If we elaborate this ambit, then it is used by the third party…”

-commented CJI Chandrachud.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, supporting this stance, interjected,

“Yes… for clickbait stuff.”

Earlier in the hearing, the Court had asked for a report from the Tamil Nadu Police. Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the State, confirmed that the report had been submitted.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Isha Foundation, argued that there appeared to be ulterior motives behind the allegations, which led to unwarranted privacy violations.

“The report is all over, and they are publishing the annexures. Foreigner statements were recorded and said that they were present on their own,”

-Rohatgi submitted.

Rohatgi also pointed out that the daughters were critical of their father in the report. Luthra then highlighted other violations mentioned in the report, but the Court maintained its stance that the State was free to proceed according to the law. However, the Court’s primary concern was the High Court’s handling of the Habeas Corpus petition.

“As a State, you must proceed in accordance with law. We are today only on the High Court order passed in a Habeas Corpus plea where statements of the two corpus were recorded, and the High Court should have closed the matter, but it proceeded. Now they exceeded here. But as a State, you can proceed,”

-Justice Pardiwala stated.

The Supreme Court’s order made it clear that closing the Habeas Corpus petition would not exempt the Isha Foundation from complying with regulatory requirements. Additionally, the Court verbally instructed the Foundation’s counsel to ensure that all necessary legal compliances were adhered to, especially concerning the safety and well-being of women and minors.

“When you have women and minor children, there needs to be an internal complaints committee (ICC). The idea is not to malign an organization, but there are some requirements which have to be complied with. Mr. Rohatgi, you have to impress upon the institution that these have to be complied with,”

-concluded CJI Chandrachud.

CASE TITLE:
Isha Foundation v S Kamaraj and Ors.

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