The highest court dismissed the case, saying the Madras High Court “had conducted itself in a completely inappropriate manner” by ordering an inquiry into the habeas corpus petition.
A massive relief to Sadhguru’s, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a Habeas Corpus petition against the Isha Foundation, which accused the spiritual leader’s ashram of holding two women captive.
The petition was filed by Dr S Kamaraj, a retired professor, who alleged that his two daughters, Geetha, 42, and Latha, 39, have been “brainwashed” into joining Sadhguru’s ashram in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore and have been denied contact with their family.
A three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud dismissed the case, saying that the Madras High Court that ordered an inquiry into the habeas corpus petition acted in a “completely inappropriate” manner and had “exceeded jurisdiction” by not closing proceedings after the two women said they were living there voluntarily.
Observing that both women were not minor-aged, reportage says they were 27 and 24 years old when they joined the ashram. As the purpose of the habeas corpus petition was satisfied by their appearance in the High Court, “no further directions were required” from that judicial forum.
Notably, habeas corpus petition is filed seeking direction to produce before the court a person who is missing or being illegally detained.
