National Desk
15 February
Ludhiana
Sandeep Dhand
The Supreme Court on Friday criticized the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) for approaching it after two years against a Madras High Court order that had quashed show cause notices issued to the Isha Foundation. These notices were related to the construction of various buildings between 2006 and 2014 without environmental clearance.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotishwar Singh called the petition a “friendly match” played by bureaucrats, suggesting a lack of seriousness in the approach. The apex court reminded the Tamil Nadu government that, since the Isha Foundation has already built a yoga and meditation centre in Velliangiri, Coimbatore district, it must now ensure compliance with environmental norms.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Isha Foundation, requested the court to schedule the hearing after the upcoming Shivaratri festival, citing a major event planned at the centre. Accepting the request, the Supreme Court has postponed the matter for a later date.
The original show cause notices were issued on the grounds that the foundation had constructed buildings in the ecologically sensitive Velliangiri Hills without obtaining prior environmental clearance. However, the central government had informed the Madras High Court that the foundation conducts yoga classes and runs a school, thereby categorizing it under ‘education.’ The high court, based on this submission, had earlier ruled in favor of the foundation.
The Supreme Court’s remarks now put pressure on the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that environmental regulations are followed while balancing the foundation’s activities. The case has once again brought attention to the debate over environmental compliance versus development in sensitive areas.