Art of Living hails SC ruling, gets Rs 5 crore refund in Yamuna case

The Supreme Court overturned a 2017 NGT ruling against The Art of Living, stating there was no proof of environmental damage to the Yamuna floodplains from the 2016 World Culture Festival. The DDA was ordered to refund a Rs 5 crore deposit.

The Art of Living welcomed the Supreme Court's judgement setting aside a 2017 order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that held Ravi Shankar's foundation responsible for damaging the Yamuna floodplains during its 2016 World Culture Festival, saying that the ruling brought closure to a decade-long media trial and false allegations. The apex court on Saturday ruled that the material on record failed to prove that the 2016 World Culture Festival caused environmental damage to the site, directing the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to refund the Rs 5 crore deposit made by the organisation within four weeks, invalidating all consequential and interim actions.

Organisation Hails 'Closure to False Allegations'

"The Court has set aside the judgment of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), along with all consequential interim actions. Importantly, the Supreme Court held that the material on record has proved that the Art of Living World Culture Festival did no damage to the Yamuna floodplains. The Court further held that the Art of Living is entitled to a full refund of the Rs 5 crore deposited. The deposit was wrongly touted as a 'fine', with the intention to tarnish the organisation's image," the organisation said in a release.

The World Culture Festival 2016 was a landmark global event that witnessed participation from over 155 countries and 3.5 million on-ground attendees. The event was chaired by the former Chief Justice of India, R C Lahoti. The late Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations, would have co-chaired the event had he not unfortunately passed away a month before the event, the release said.

"The ridiculous attitude of certain vested interests in falsely accusing an organisation that has been working to protect the environment has now been exposed," an official spokesperson for The Art of Living said.

Supreme Court's Judgement

Justice Satish Chandra Sharma noted in the SC judgement, "In view of the foregoing discussion and findings, the impugned judgment dated 07.12.2017 is set aside along with all consequential and interim actions taken against the appellant herein. The appellant is entitled to refund of the amount of Rs. 5 crores deposited by it to DDA, in compliance of the Tribunal's order dated 09.03.2016. The same shall be refunded by DDA within four weeks from today."

DDA's Role in Floodplain Rehabilitation Continues

Justice Sharma said the court has not altered the duties assigned to the DDA regarding the ongoing management or restoration of the Yamuna floodplains, directing the authority to continue its rehabilitation plans as previously ordered by the Tribunal. "Suffice to note that DDA shall continue to carry out the rehabilitation work at the Yamuna floodplains as per the proposed plan and directions issued by the Tribunal from time to time. We have not altered the responsibilities entrusted to DDA concerning the management or rehabilitation of the Yamuna floodplains, in any manner. Accordingly, the appeal stands disposed of along with pending application(s), if any," he said. (ANI)

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