New Delhi: In a significant legal relief for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation, the Supreme Court on Saturday set aside a 2017 ruling by the National Green Tribunal that held the spiritual organization responsible for alleged environmental damage to the Yamuna floodplains during its 2016 World Culture Festival. A bench comprising Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice N.K. Singh allowed the appeal filed by Vyakti Vikas Kendra India, a registered charitable trust associated with the foundation, and directed the Delhi Development Authority to refund the ₹5 crore environmental compensation previously deposited by the organizers.
The original dispute dates back to March 2016, when the foundation organized the three-day cultural festival along the banks of the River Yamuna in New Delhi. In December 2017, the NGT held the foundation liable for ecological degradation following reports submitted by an expert committee and directed that the ₹5 crore interim penalty be utilized by the DDA for land rehabilitation.
Setting aside the tribunal’s findings, the apex court observed that there was no direct evidence demonstrating that the three-day event caused permanent damage to the river’s fragile ecosystem. While ordering the complete refund of the compensation amount, the top court instructed the DDA to proceed with ongoing rehabilitation and maintenance work across the Yamuna floodplains in accordance with environmental directives.
