A petition was filed against Isha Foundation’s campaign called ‘Cauvery Calling’. AV Amarnath petitioner stated that the Isha foundation is planning to plant 253 crores plants to save Cauvery River. The report states that the Isha Foundation is collecting Rs. 42 per tree planting from the public. That means the Isha Foundation is collecting a sum of Rs. 10,626 crores. Petitioner said that “This collection of money from the public is very disturbing”
The petitioner questioned the need for the Isha Foundation to collect money from the public for planting trees along the Cauvery River.
The Karnataka High Court issued notices to the state government after a petition was filed questioning the 'Cauvery Calling' campaign launched by Isha Foundation, headed by 'Sadhguru' Jaggi Vasudev. The State Government has clarified that the 'Cauvery Calling' project, proposed by the Isha Foundation, is not the project of the state government.
In the petition, the petitioner seeks directions from the court to stop the Foundation from collecting money from the public for the project.
He also mentioned some past incidents in which personalities like SaalumaradaThimakka and Jadav Payeng had planted trees in the state without collecting money from the public.
The petition was heard on 25th August before which the Karnataka High Court got to know that the petitioner of this case has sent a legal notice to Discovery Channel to stop the telecast of the program on the project.
On this information, Karnataka HC asked the petitioner whether he has sent a legal notice to channel or not.
Uday Holla Senior Advocate for Isha Foundation stated that 3 notices were sent in which it was written that if the program was aired it would amount to contempt of court as the matter is pending in the HC. The petitioner on this replied that he has not been served with the affidavit filed by the respondent. This was disproved by the respondent.
The bench comprising of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi said to the petitioner that “you cannot mislead channels “and asked the respondents to serve the affidavit once again.
The case is now posted to be heard on 8th September 2020.
