The Supreme Court has overturned a 2017 decision by the National Green Tribunal that imposed a fine on the Art of Living foundation for causing damage to the Yamuna floodplains during a three-day event in 2016. The court also ordered the Delhi Development Authority to refund the Rs 5 crore paid as a penalty.
On Saturday, a bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and NK Singh passed an order on an appeal filed by Vyakti Vikas Kendra India, an organization associated with the Art of Living Foundation led by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The foundation had held the World Culture Festival in Delhi in March 2016 to mark 35 years since its establishment.
Prior to the event, concerns about environmental damage were raised by various organizations and individuals, as the event was planned for the ecologically-sensitive Yamuna floodplains. A scientific panel of the National Green Tribunal had taken note of these concerns and recommended a penalty of Rs 120 crore on the Art of Living Foundation.
However, two days before the event, the tribunal allowed the foundation to proceed with the celebrations but fined it Rs 5 crore. The final judgement in December 2017 by the National Green Tribunal held the Art of Living Foundation responsible for damage to the Yamuna floodplains based on the findings of an expert committee. It directed that the Rs 5 crore already deposited be used by the Delhi Development Authority to restore the floodplains.
The foundation challenged this judgement before the Supreme Court, arguing that the site had not been officially demarcated as a floodplain and that there was no scientific assessment establishing the extent of environmental damage caused by the festival. The foundation also questioned why liability was imposed on them when the event had received permissions from the Delhi Development Authority.
Source:
Scroll.in
