Contempt notice to Sri Sri's Art of living for remarks against green panel

The National green tribunal issued contempt notices to Sri Sri Ravishankar's Art Of Living and the Delhi development authority on Thursday. The notices were issued after a contempt petition was moved against the spiritual leader for holding the union government and green panel responsible for the damage caused to the Yamuna floodplains.

A plea was filed by activist Manoj Misra seeking action against Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The petition claimed that the statement made by the Art of Living founder 'interfered with the free and fair dispensation of justice'. NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar who heard the petition on Thursday issued contempt notices to AOL. The Delhi



Development Authority was also made a party to the plea and hence has been issued with a contempt notice as well.

An expert panel told the NGT that AOL had caused damage to the Yamuna floodplains during their world culture festival. The panel had also claimed that Rs 42 crore would be required to restore the ravaged floodplains. Soon after the report became public, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had blamed the government and the NGT for permitting AOL.

He also added that his foundation AOL had obtained all necessary permissions, including from the green panel, and the event could have been stopped in the beginning itself if the river was so 'fragile and pure'.