The Madras High Court has taken a significant step towards investigating allegations of unauthorized constructions carried out by Sadhguru's Isha Yoga Foundation in Coimbatore. The court has directed the Joint Director of District Town and Country Planning to thoroughly examine the land purchase documents related to the foundation's activities and verify whether the necessary permissions were obtained for the construction of the Adiyogi Statue. Should any irregularities be found in the permissions, the court has mandated the appropriate authorities to take swift action.
Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice PD Audikesavalu headed the bench that issued these directives based on a plea brought forth by the Vellingiri Hill Tribal Protection Society. This society, established to safeguard the Vellingiri Hills from encroachments and promote natural resource conservation, alleged that Isha Foundation proceeded with construction without obtaining approvals from key authorities such as the District Collector, Hill Area Conservation Authorities, Fire Department, and Pollution Control Department.
The Society's plea invoked Section 4(3) of the Panchayat Building Rules 1997, asserting that no construction for public worship or religious purposes should occur without District Collector approval. Additionally, it highlighted Section 25, which stipulates that approval for public building construction requires consultation with the Town and Country Planning Department.
The Society contended that the Isha Foundation had undertaken unauthorized construction since 2016 without proper approvals, leading to the obstruction and destruction of the Noyyal River's catchment area – a vital water source for Coimbatore and Tiruppur District. The unregulated construction activities also reportedly posed threats to wildlife, as nocturnal construction activities frightened animals, causing them to encroach on agricultural land and incur losses.
The Madras High Court noted that despite representations made to the authorities to curb the unapproved construction, no action had been taken. The court was apprised by the Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning that there were no records indicating the necessary approvals had been granted for the construction.
As a result, the court ordered a comprehensive examination of the matter by the Joint Director of District Town and Country Planning, emphasizing that corrective action should be taken swiftly if any construction was found to deviate from approved plans and permissions. The court also directed the Isha Foundation to provide all relevant documents to the Joint Director within two weeks.
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