New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (October 18) closed the habeas corpus petition filed by a father of two daughters alleging that his two daughters were being illegally confined at ashram run by Sadhguru at Isha Yoga Centre at Coimbatore against their wishes, noting that they were staying there out of their free choice.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, while closing the habeas corpus plea said that since both of them (girls) are adults and the purpose of habeas corpus was fulfilled, no further directions were needed from the Madras High Court.
Apex court earlier restrained Coimbatore rural police from taking any further action against Isha Foundation
The apex court had earlier restrained Coimbatore rural police from taking any further action against Isha Foundation and had transferred judicial proceedings in the case from the Madras High court to the Supreme Court in Delhi. It had also directed the Coimbatore rural police to file a status report stating if inmates living in the Isha Foundation were being held in the ashram run by Sadguru against their wishes.
Isha foundation moved apex court against Madras High Court order
Isha foundation had moved the apex court against an order of the High Court directing the Coimbatore rural police to look into allegations, which alleged that several inmates at the ashram of Isha foundation were forced to stay there, and conduct an inquiry and file a status report on the same.
Coimbatore rural police had sent a force of 150 police men at ashram on October 1 following High Court order
The Coimbatore rural police had sent a force of 150 police men at the ashram on October 1 following the order of the High court and they had examined every room and interacted with persons at the ashram.
The Isha Foundation, aggrieved by the police presence in the ashram, had submitted before the apex court earlier that police presence at the ashram violated their right to religious freedom and that the petition filed in the high court was motivated with ill intentions.
