Isha foundation taken to court over new statue

The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar before which the PIL came up on Wednesday, adjourned the matter to February 19. 

Vellingiri Hill tribal Protection Society represented by its president P Muthammal has submitted that the land which Isha foundation had acquired falls under the Hill Area Conservation Authority (HACA) as per a Government Order of April 12, 1990. But not withstanding this, Isha Foundation had acquired 3.26 acres in the village and later through benami names had purchased another three acres.

Subsequently, the foundation which had started construction on 120 feet for public usage gradually extended it to about 1,00,000 square feet, without getting approval from the district Collector, Hill Area Conservation Authorities, Fire Department and Pollution Control Department, the plea said. 

The plea further submitted that the ‘illegal construction’ was being carried out using huge granite rocks and iron rods even at night, scaring wild animals, which flee into cultivable lands, causing huge losses to people.

Also noting that as per section 4(3) of Panchayat Building Rules 1977 provides that no site shall be used for the construction of buildings intended for public worship or religious purpose without the approval of the district Collector, the plea pointed out that the land where the construction is now taking place were agricultural lands and any construction on the same requires prior permission from the district Collector , Hill Area Conservation Authorities Department and town and Country Planning Department. But no such permission has been obtained by Isha Foundation in any of its construction.

The plea also noted that all efforts to redress their grievance had failed to evoke any remedy and hence had no choice but to approach the court as a last dich effort. 

It may be noted that Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev is scheduled to consecrate the 112-foot statue of ‘Adiyogi’ on February 24.