NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal today issued contempt notice to Art of Living (AOL) foundation head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar over his alleged statement against its order putting curbs on his World Culture Festival (WCF) held on ecologically fragile Yamuna river plains here.
The petition, filed by Manoj Mishra, who runs Yamuna Bachao Andolan, contended that the spiritual guru had raised questions over the Tribunal’s order on WCF, saying it was ‘politically motivated.’ Mr Mishra pleaded that this statement amounts to contempt of court.
The Principal Bench, headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, sought detailed reply within two weeks from the AOL over the petition filed by Mr Mishra .
The counsel appearing on behalf of AOL asserted that no such statement was ever made by Ravi Shankar and that Mr Mishra was quoting a media report and that he himself has no evidence to substantiate the charge.
To this, the Chairperson of Green Bench specifically underlined that there was a difference between the statement being reported by media and being actually made by individual.
The Green Bench reserved its order on another petition filed by the AOL, seeking its nod to accept the fine, slapped by NGT, as bank guarantee instead of “payment of balance amount” Earlier, NGT had imposed a fine of Rs 5 crore on `AOL for allegedly disturbing the ecologically fragile Yamuna plains for organising WCF. Of this fine, Rs 25 lakh had already been paid by the AOL. The next hearing is slated for 25 May. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
