The Supreme Court has quashed the NGT's decision holding the Art of Living Foundation responsible for Yamuna floodplain damage, ordering the DDA to refund ₹5 crore.

  • Supreme Court quashed the 2017 NGT decision regarding the 2016 World Culture Festival.
  • DDA must refund ₹5 crore to the Art of Living Foundation within four weeks.
  • The Court noted that the Yamuna floodplains were already damaged prior to the event.
  • The judgment criticized DDA for permitting the event on an active floodplain.

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India on Saturday set aside the December 2017 decision of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had held Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation responsible for environmental damage to the Yamuna floodplains during the 2016 World Culture Festival.

A Bench comprising Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and N.K. Singh directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to refund the ₹5 crore deposited by the foundation within four weeks. The ruling comes in response to an appeal filed by Vyakti Vikas Kendra India, an entity associated with the foundation.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this verdict highlights a significant judicial scrutiny of how regulatory bodies like the DDA grant permissions for large-scale events in ecologically sensitive zones. The Court pointed out that granting permission for the festival was inconsistent with the 'precautionary principle' and the 'doctrine of public trust.'

The tribunal effectively burdened the appellant with the task of developing something that it never destroyed.

The Supreme Court observed that the NGT had failed to consider that the site was already in a degraded state due to pre-existing debris and construction material. Furthermore, the Court criticized the NGT for relying on a "solitary" satellite image without corroborating it with other contemporaneous evidence, essentially converting a dispute into a proceeding for fresh development at the appellant's expense.

Historical Background

The controversy dates back to the 2016 World Culture Festival organized by the Art of Living Foundation on the banks of the Yamuna. Following environmental concerns, the NGT imposed a ₹5 crore fine intended for the restoration of the floodplains, a decision that remained a point of legal contention for nearly a decade.

Did You Know?: Floodplains act as natural sponges, absorbing excess water during monsoons to prevent urban flooding in cities like Delhi.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why did the Supreme Court criticize the DDA?
The Court held that the DDA should not have permitted a massive event on an active floodplain, as it violated environmental safety principles.

2. What happens to the ₹5 crore?
The DDA is ordered to refund the full amount to the Art of Living Foundation within one month.