Sri Sri gets NGT notice for calling fine politically motivated

Art of Living (AOL) founder, Sri Sri Ravishankar, was served a notice by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday, questioning an alleged remark by him calling the green court's action against him politically motivated.

The guru had been widely quoted by the media on April 22 saying the decision to penalise AOL Rs 5 crore for causing damage to the Yamuna flood plains in Delhi, was "politically motivated".

AOL's mega-event, the 'World Culture Festival', was held on the western bank of the river from DND Flyover to Sarai Kale Khan from March 11-13. Environmentalists Manoj Misra and Anand Arya dragged it to court for ravaging 24.4 hectares of the river's natural marshland.

A panel of scientists also concluded that "Yamuna's wetlands, reed beds and flora and fauna were disturbed". On its recommendation, the NGT first imposed an "environmental compensation" of Rs 5 cr on AOL. Later, it modified it the extent that AOL 'shall pay a sum of Rs 25 lakhs on the debut day of the event and the remaining Rs 4.75 cr in three weeks' time.'

During the hearing, the NGT bench asked AOL counsel whether such a statement was indeed given by Sri Sri. AOL's advocate replied that the application was based only on media reports and no such statement was given by Sri Sri. He also said, if tomorrow, it is found by the court that the application is ill-founded or misconceived, and Sri Sri never made said such a remark on NGT, action should be taken against the applicant as well.

On Tuesday, NGT accepted an application which alleged the spiritual guru had "shown gross disrespect in public domain towards NGT by calling its order politically motivated".

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to AOL and asked Sri Sri to file a reply by May 25, 2016, the next date of hearing. The bench said, "Let reply to this application be filed (by AOL), then we will proceed with the matter in accordance with law."

The application filed by Manoj Misra said: "This is to draw the attention of this Honourable Tribunal to the gross disrespect shown in public domain by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Chairman of the Art of Living Foundation, by casting aspersions on this court and the dispensation of justice done by it. The said statement scandalises the justice delivery system."

It also underlined: "This is not the first time that such a statement has been made. In fact, during the course of the proceedings, one such statement was made by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that he would rather go to jail than pay `5 crores, meaning thereby that he would not comply with the order of this Hon'ble Tribunal. In fact, this tribunal vide order dated 11.03.2016 had taken note of this statement."

The application requested the court to "Take appropriate action against Ravi Shankar (whose statement) interferes with the free and fair dispensation of justice by this tribunal."

Importantly, the NGT reserved its order on AOL's plea seeking its nod to accept the remaining fine of Rs 4.75 cr as bank guarantee. Environmentalists had

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