NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday set aside a 2017 order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) holding Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation responsible for the damage caused to the Yamuna floodplain following its World Culture Festival held here in 2016.
The court directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to refund the Rs 5 crore environmental compensation deposited by the foundation.
A bench of justices Satish Chandra Sharma and N K Singh passed the order on an appeal filed by Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (VVKI), the organisation associated with AoL Foundation, founded by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The foundation is the broader international organisation, while VVKI is a separate Indian entity linked to it.
The NGT had ruled on December 7, 2017 that the Rs 5 crore interim compensation paid by the foundation would be used by DDA for restoration and excess cost, if any, would be recovered from AoL. It had also held DDA guilty of contributory negligence.
The top court said NGT’s finding was based on an expert committee report prepared in “violation of natural justice” without giving AoL a chance to submit evidence. The Shashi Shekhar committee’s estimate — Rs 42.02 crore first, then Rs 13.29 crore — was arbitrary with no conclusive proof that floodplain was “completely destroyed”, the bench said.
The court further said that the event was held after necessary and due permission from DDA, ministry of enviornment, UP irrigation department and other authorities.
VVKI had moved the SC after the NGT order held it responsible for degradation of floodplain near DND Flyway for organising the three-day festival, which was attended by 35 lakh people, including the PM.