New Delhi, Feb 28 : The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Madras High Court’s ruling that quashed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board’s (TNPCB) show-cause notice against Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation. The notice had alleged environmental violations in the foundation’s construction activities in Coimbatore.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh ruled that the High Court’s decision was justified, preventing any coercive action against Isha Foundation’s Yoga and Meditation Centre. However, the court emphasized that the foundation must obtain approval from relevant authorities for any future expansions.

On December 14, 2022, the Madras High Court classified the Isha Foundation’s facilities under the ‘education’ category, thereby exempting it from requiring prior environmental clearance for construction. As a result, it set aside TNPCB’s notice questioning why legal action should not be taken over buildings constructed between 2006 and 2014.

TNPCB had subsequently challenged this decision in the Supreme Court. However, the apex court upheld the High Court’s ruling, affirming its correctness.