Supreme Court quashes ₹5 crore fine on Art of Living Foundation

The Supreme Court of India has quashed a ₹5 crore environmental fine imposed on the Art of Living Foundation regarding an event held on the Yamuna floodplain in 2016. The court ruled that there was no direct evidence linking the event to the environmental damage observed at the site, noting that the area was already in a dilapidated condition.

A bench comprising Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and N. Kotiswar Singh stated that absolute liability requires a direct link between an act and the resulting damage. The court also observed that the National Green Tribunal had failed to provide the appellant with an adequate opportunity to present its case and had overlooked relevant material.

While setting aside the fine, the Supreme Court criticized the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for its role in permitting the event on the active floodplain. The court stated that the DDA failed to fulfill its statutory duties and violated the trust placed in it as the body responsible for protecting the floodplain. The DDA has been directed to continue the rehabilitation of the Yamuna floodplain and to refund the ₹5 crore deposited by Vyakti Vikas Kendra, an entity associated with the Art of Living Foundation.