SC criticises Tamil Nadu pollution board for challenging HC order on Isha Foundation after two years

The Supreme Court on Friday criticised the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for challenging after two years a Madras High Court order that quashed a notice issued to Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation for not obtaining environmental clearance, Live Law reported.

“What prevented authorities from approaching this court in time?” the Supreme Court asked the board. “When [the] state comes belatedly, we become suspicious.”

In December 2022, the High Court quashed a show-cause notice the board had issued to the Isha Foundation. The notice sought to prosecute Vasudev’s organisation for having constructed several buildings between 2006 and 2014 in the foothills of Velliangiri in Coimbatore district allegedly without obtaining environmental clearance.

The High Court had ruled that the foundation was exempted from seeking environmental clearance for construction activities because it came within the definition of an educational institution.

Isha Foundation had challenged the board’s notice in the High Court in January 2022, arguing that the 2014 Environment Protection Amendment Rules granted retrospective exemption to educational institutions.

The foundation had argued that it must be categorised as an educational institute because its yoga centre helps develop mental and physical health. The court had agreed to the foundation’s submission.

On Friday, the Supreme Court told the pollution board that it cannot belatedly question the yoga centre’s categorisation as…

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