Cauvery Calling: Karnataka HC asks petitioner if he sent legal notice to prevent Discovery Channel from airing programme on project

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday asked petitioner Advocate AV Amarnathan to clarify whether he had sent a legal notice to Discovery Channel India, asking them to refrain from airing a programme on the Cauvery Calling project..Isha Foundation informed the Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi that an affidavit had been filed on the conduct the petitioner..Senior Counsel Uday Holla, representing Isha Foundation, apprised the Bench that Discovery Channel wanted to air a programme based on the Cauvery Calling project. Subsequently, the petitioner sent a legal notice to the channel, saying that airing the program would amount to contempt of court.."There is no interim order passed by your Lordships. He (Petitioner) keeps doing mischievous things such as this....", submitted Holla. .On hearing this, the Court asked, ."Go through the affidavit filed by Mr Holla and respond. Because you cannot mislead channels. We will go into that.".Thus, the Court directed that a copy of the affidavit be served to the petitioner. .As the hearing progressed, the Court orally noted the two issues to be decided in the matter. ."First contention appears to be that this project is on government land. Second contention is that money was collected from public saying that it is a government project. These are the two things which have to be decided."Karnataka High Court.The Bench went on to note that now, Isha Foundation is contending that it is not collecting any money from the public. Further, the Court asked Isha Foundation to explain the inconsistencies in the two affidavits it had filed. .The petition filed by Amarnathan alleged that as part of the Cauvery Calling project, Isha Foundation was planting saplings on government land and was collecting money for the same from the public..The plea raises concern as to how the government can allow its land to be used by a private organisation, without studying the pros and cons of the project..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..The matter has been adjourned to September 8.