SC Gives Relief to Art of Living in Yamuna Floodplain Case
What Happened
The Supreme Court set aside the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) 2017 order that had held Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation responsible for environmental damage caused during its 2016 World Culture Festival on the Yamuna floodplains in Delhi. The court directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to refund ₹5 crore deposited by the organisation as environmental compensation.
Key Takeaways
The ruling is a significant legal victory for the Art of Living Foundation, with the Supreme Court concluding that environmental penalties cannot be imposed without direct proof of damage. At the same time, the court underscored that authorities such as the DDA have a responsibility to protect ecologically sensitive areas like the Yamuna floodplain.