Madras HC refuses to bar Isha's Maha Shivaratri event after pollution control body gives clean chit

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court dismissed a plea that sought to restrain Isha Foundation from conducting its grand event on Maha Sivaratri alleging serious violation of pollution norms.

The petitioner failed to establish the right to grant any relief to injunct Isha from conducting the event and this court does not find any acceptable ground to interfere with Isha, a division bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and K Rajasekar said while dismissing the petition.

Additional Advocate General J Ravindran, on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, filed a counter affidavit, stating Isha has been complying with all the pollution control statutes and rules. It also has adequate sewage treatment facilities to handle the event that several lakhs of devotees and volunteers would attend on Maha Sivaratri. The ambient noise level is also within the board-prescribed level of 75 db (A), it affidavit.

The petitioner, ST Sivagnanan, had moved the court accusing Isha of causing noise pollution and destroying the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats.

The advocate, appearing for the petitioner, relied upon a Supreme Court judgment and submitted that no one can be allowed to use loudspeakers after midnight; usage of loud speakers is not a facet of any religious event. Since it is an educational institution, as Isha claims, they cannot be allowed to use loud speakers for the event.

Senior counsel Sathish Parasaran, on behalf of Isha, said the participants are gathering there voluntarily, hence they are not forcing or disturbing anyone, he submitted.

After hearing all the submissions, the bench dismissed the petition.