Plea in SC seeks enforcement of sexual harassment law in religious institutions, targeting Isha Foundation

The application was filed by the OBC Mahasabha and others in connection with a case involving allegations against the Isha Foundation, a spiritual organization founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. The matter came to light after S Kamaraj, a retired professor from Coimbatore, alleged that his two daughters were being manipulated by the spiritual leader.

Allegations against Isha Foundation

The Isha Foundation, which runs spiritual programs worldwide, is under scrutiny for not adhering to the 2013 law despite its major meetings and global presence. The filing, filed through lawyer Varun Thakur, pointed out that the foundation has failed to implement workplace safety laws designed to protect women from harassment.

The filing also mentioned a recent case involving an Isha Foundation doctor, who was accused of abusing 12 girls at an Adivasi Government School. This incident further highlighted the need for strict compliance with the 2013 law in religious institutions.

Call for strict enforcement in all religious institutions

The petition argued that the law on sexual harassment of women in the workplace should be enforced in all religious institutions, regardless of their faith. It emphasized that these institutions often have large numbers of male and female workers and devotees, creating the need for proper safety measures.

The petition also criticized the Isha Foundation for not following Section 4 of the 2013 Act, which requires organizations to implement internal mechanisms to tackle harassment in the workplace. Despite the large infrastructure, the foundation’s website and other sources show no evidence of compliance.

Supreme Court intervention in Isha Foundation case

On October 3, the Supreme Court intervened and restrained the Tamil Nadu police from taking further action against the Isha Foundation. This came after the Madras High Court directed the police to investigate allegations related to the ashram.

The case was transferred to the Supreme Court after the Isha Foundation alleged that a large police team had entered the ashram to investigate. The court has asked the police to submit a status report on the investigation.

Background to the allegations

The case started when Kamaraj filed a habeas corpus petition, alleging that his two daughters were being held against their will at the Isha Yoga Centre. He claimed they were brainwashed and not allowed to keep in touch with their families.

While the daughters appeared before the Supreme Court and stated that they were staying at the ashram voluntarily, the court expressed concern and asked for details of criminal cases involving the institution.

The Isha Foundation has denied all allegations and states that the women are staying at the ashram of their own free will.