Supreme Court Relief For Art Of Living In Yamuna Floodplain Damage Case

The Supreme Court on Saturday set aside a 2017 order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) holding Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation responsible for the damage caused to the Yamuna floodplain due to its World Culture Festival held here in 2016.The top court also directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to refund the Rs 5 crore environmental compensation deposited by the foundation.A bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and N K Singh held that there is ample material on record to show that the event site was already in a dilapidated condition prior to its handing over to the Art of Living Foundation."The material on record actually goes on to prove that damage, if any, cannot be attributed to the appellant...."The impugned judgment dated December 7, 2017, is set aside, along with all consequential and interim actions taken against the appellant herein.