The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed against Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation, which accused the organization of unlawfully detaining two women. The petition was filed by Dr. S Kamaraj, a retired professor, claiming that his daughters, Geetha (42) and Latha (39), were being held captive at the foundation’s ashram in Coimbatore.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, rejected the plea, noting that the Madras High Court had overstepped its jurisdiction by continuing the proceedings even after the women confirmed they were staying at the ashram voluntarily.
Earlier in the case, the Supreme Court had directly interacted with Geetha and Latha through video conferencing. During this interaction, the women affirmed that they were residing at the ashram of their own free will. Following the interaction, CJI Chandrachud stated that both women made it clear that they were not being held against their wishes.
The petition arose after Dr. Kamaraj raised concerns over the well-being of his daughters. However, the court’s decision clarified that there was no unlawful detention, and the women had chosen to live at the Isha Foundation on their own accord.
The court’s ruling concluded the matter, with the bench reiterating that legal proceedings should have been closed when the women initially confirmed their voluntary residence.