Politics · India Bureau
Supreme Court sets aside NGT ruling, orders ₹5 crore refund to Art of Living
The Supreme Court has overturned a 2017 National Green Tribunal order holding Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation liable for environmental damage to Yamuna floodplains caused by its 2016 World Culture Festival. The court has directed the Delhi Development Authority to refund the ₹5 crore environmental compensation deposited by the foundation.
LSN India ·
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice N K Singh delivered the ruling on Saturday while hearing an appeal filed by Vyakti Vikas Kendra India, an entity associated with the Art of Living Foundation. The original NGT order had held the foundation responsible for damage to the ecologically sensitive Yamuna floodplains during the three-day World Culture Festival held in 2016.
The Supreme Court's decision to overturn the NGT's findings resulted in the direction for the Delhi Development Authority to refund the full amount of environmental compensation that had been collected from the foundation. This amount represented the financial penalty imposed for the ecological damage assessed by the lower tribunal.
While setting aside the NGT's liability order, the Supreme Court did not absolve authorities of their environmental obligations. The bench directed the DDA to continue rehabilitation efforts for the Yamuna floodplains in accordance with the remedial measures originally prescribed by the NGT, ensuring that environmental restoration work remains on track despite the reversal of the compensation order.