Cauvery Calling project is looked after by an independent entity: Isha Foundation files memo before Karnataka HC

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Foundation recently filed a memo before the Karnataka High Court stating that it was not dealing with or managing the "Cauvery Calling" project..Isha Foundation, in its affidavit memo, stated that the project is being dealt with by another independent entity named 'Isha Outreach'. It further requested the Court to implead Isha Outreach as an additional respondent in the case. In this regard, the memo reads,."The issue raised in the above writ petition pertains to the project, Cauvery Calling, which is entirely managed by ISHA OUTREACH which is a registered charitable trust...However the project of Cauvery Calling in entirely looked after and managed by ISHA OUTREACH which is an independent entity. ".Two months earlier, the Karnataka High Court had observed that Isha Foundation cannot force the public to contribute money towards the Cauvery Calling project. The High Court further opined that under the garb of spirituality, no unlawful activities will be entertained. .When the matter was taken up for hearing last month, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Hemant Chandangoudar stated,"Even spiritual matters have to be bound by law. In the name of spirituality, what all are you doing? Don't be under the impression that if you are not-for-profit organisation, you are not bound by law.".The High Court further stated that,"You are not authorized by the State or the Central Government to take money. Under what authority are you collecting money from farmers? You are not a registered society. Who has constituted it and under what law?".Under what authority are you collecting money? Karnataka HC asks Isha Foundation in Cauvery Calling matter.Last year, a petition had been filed in the Karnataka High Court by Advocate AV Amarnathan, seeking a direction to look into the Cauvery Calling project. .Cauvery Calling is a project undertaken by spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation, an organisation based in Coimbatore, to revitalize dried up rivers..The petitioner further argued that the “collection of money from public is disturbing” as the foundation is expected to collect a massive ₹10,626 crore as donation.[Read the memo here]