Under what authority are you collecting money? Karnataka HC asks Isha Foundation in Cauvery Calling matter

The Karnataka High Court today 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. .Cauvery Calling is a project undertaken by spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation, an organisation based in Coimbatore, to revitalize the dried up rivers.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.When the matter was taken up for hearing today, 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?"CJ Oka of Karnataka High Court.After posing the above questions to the respondents, the High Court stated that creating awareness about river rejuvenation is a good cause. However, the same should not be done at the cost of forcing people to pay money. "Where is the affidavit stating that you have not forced people to pay money?", CJ Oka asked the respondents..The Court went on to ask Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi, appearing for the state, whether any enquiry was conducted in the matter.."The Government simply can't stop...What enquiry have you conducted? You should have made an enquiry from whom they are collecting money...When a citizen complains, you ought to conduct an enquiry. The State should not get impressed by some spiritual work."CJ Oka.Justice Oka finally directed Isha Foundation to disclose how much money it has collected for the Cauvery Calling project and in what manner it has collected the same.The matter will be next heard on February 12.The petition alleges that as part of the Cauvery Calling project, Isha Foundation was planting saplings on government land and collecting money for the same from the public. In his petition, Amarnathan had questioned how the government can allow its land to be used for planting saplings by a private organisation, without studying the pros and cons of the project initiated by the Foundation. 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.