NEW DELHI: In a relief to Isha Foundation, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with a Madras High Court order quashing the notices of the TN pollution control body over the alleged violation of environmental norms, and ordered that no coercive action should be taken against the yoga and meditation centre.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh upheld the Madras High Court order quashing notices of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) against Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation over the alleged illegal constructions on the foothills of Velliangiri Hills in Coimbatore. The court told the foundation to comply with all environmental norms and directions of the TNPCB.
The top court, however, said its order was not a precedent for regularising illegal constructions and is restricted to the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case. Tamil Nadu Advocate General P S Raman said the government only wanted that the order should not be treated as a ‘permanent gate pass’ and shouldn’t inhibit any future inspection of the properties, and the yoga centre should comply with environmental norms.
The bench said there was no immunity or exemption from compliance with environmental norms. The court’s concern was only related to the dismantling of the structure, the judges said. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Isha Foundation, said the state authorities should not be allowed to inspect the centre as the same thing would happen. Raman said the town and country planning authorities should be allowed to carry out the inspection so to prevent the construction of any other building in the area located in the vicinity of a protected forest.