“We are grateful to the Supreme Court for upholding our choice. This trial by our birth family has caused pain, but our Isha family has stood by us,” stated the two women monks, Maa Mayu and Maa Mathi after the verdict.
October 18, 2024: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the case against Isha Foundation, while strongly stating that petitions cannot be used to malign an ganization. The Court was responding to a petition that 2 women monks are being held against their will at Isha Foundation.
Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud observed that while the Court follows due process, the proceedings cannot be to malign people and malign institutions. The Court affirmed that the two women monks, aged 39 and 42, are staying at the Foundation of their own free will.
As per the order issued by the Hon’ble Court,
“Both the individuals have attained the age of majority. They were majors even when they joined the Ashram. They have expressed their clear inclination to continue at Isha Foundation at Coimbatore. In this view, the purpose of the Habeas Corpus Petition is duly fulfilled. No further directions were necessary by the High Court.
The jurisdiction of the Court under Article 226 of the Constitution, while dealing with a habeas corpus petition, is well-defined. It would be unnecessary for this Court to expand the ambit of these proceedings which arose from the habeas corpus petition filed before the High Court of Judicature at Madras. We clarify that the only aspect of the matter which has been dealt with in these proceedings pertains to the habeas corpus petition and that aspect of the matter shall stand closed. Habeas Corpus Petition No 2487 of 2024, which has been directed to be transferred to this Court, shall stand disposed of.”
Welcoming the verdict, Maa Mayu and Maa Mathi stated, “We are extremely happy with the Supreme Court verdict for standing up for our choice to live a monastic life. This trial by our birth family has caused us immense pain, but we are grateful to Isha volunteers and Sadhguru and well-wishers for standing with us.”
The CJI had interacted with the two women monks earlier and indicated that both women were intelligent and wholly capable of independent decision making. The police also acknowledged that the monks have been in regular contact with their parents – verified through several investigations and documented evidence, including CCTV footage, more than 70 phone calls, and multiple in-person meetings between the monks and their parents.
