New Delhi, Oct 18 (Agency)
The Supreme Court on Friday closed the Habeas Corpus proceedings against Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Yoga Center at Coimbatore. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Dr DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, decided to close the habeas corpus petition filed by a father who alleged that his two daughters were brainwashed and manipulated into becoming monks by Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Yoga Center at Coimbatore.
The Court noted that both the women are major and the purpose of the Habeas Corpus plea was fulfilled after they made clear their wishes to live at the Yoga Center of their own free will. In a video conference, the two women personally assured the court that they were living in the Isha Foundation as monks of their own free will. They conveyed the same thing to a Tamil Nadu Police team that had met and talked to them separately. The Apex Court had on October 3, 2024, stayed the Madras High Court’s order passed on September 30, 2024, whereby it had directed the petitioner to produce the details of criminal cases registered against the institution. The Top Court had also directed the police not to take any further action in pursuance of the High Court order. The SC further directed the transfer of the case from Madras High Court to Supreme Court. The matter pertains to a habeas corpus petition filed in the Madras High Court by a father of 2 daughters stating that he educated his daughters aged 42 and 39, up to Master’s level in Engineering. However, both daughters subsequently joined the Isha Foundation in Coimbatore.
The father alleged that the foundation is engaging in manipulative practices, effectively brainwashing individuals and making them monks. He also raised serious concerns about the environment within the institution, stating that it has been widely criticized. The petitioner also pointed to a criminal case in which a doctor associated with the foundation, was accused of molesting 12 girls at a local Adivasi government school and is booked under the POCSO Act. Isha Foundation, however, told the Apex Court that the Doctor is not associated with them. The High Court bench comprising Justice S.M. Subramaniam and Justice V. Sivagnanam had directed that some more deliberations be required to understand the truth behind the allegations and directed the Additional Public Prosecutor to collect the details relating to the case. The High Court had also directed the Coimbatore Rural Police to conduct an inquiry into allegations against the Ashram and file a status report. After the High Court order, the Police entered the Ashram and started interrogation. Isha Foundation then filed an appeal before the Supreme Court seeking to stay police entry into the Ashram.