Why is Sadhguru Encouraging Women to be Hermits? Madras HC Judges Object!

Sadhguru has landed in legal trouble. On Monday, The Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to submit details of all criminal cases registered against Isha Foundation.

Sadhguru's Legal Battle:

A bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and V Sivagnanam said that since there are multiple criminal complaints against the Foundation, the issue deserved further deliberation.

Here's What the Madras HC Judges Said:

As per the reports in Bar and Bench, the HC said, "The learned counsel for the petitioner would also submit that there are several other criminal cases registered and allegations are pending. Given the serious nature of the allegations raised against the institution and the way and how the detenues have spoken before us, we could form an opinion that some more deliberations are required to understand the truth behind the allegations. Therefore, the petitioner shall produce the details of criminal cases registered against the institution and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor also shall collect all those case details and place them before us for further consideration."

Photo Credit: Sadhguru Instagram

The Court also questions Sadhguru's advice on marriage. The bench said, "We want to know why a person who had given his daughter in marriage and made her settle well in life is encouraging the daughters of others to tonsure their heads and live the life of a hermitess. That is the doubt."

The bench was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by one S Kamaraj, a retired professor from Coimbatore.

Kamaraj moved the Court alleging that two of his "well-educated daughters" aged 42 and 39 years had been "brainwashed" to reside at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. The authorities at the Foundation did not permit them to maintain any contact with their families, Kamaraj told the Court.

He also informed the Court of several criminal cases and allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct pending against the Foundation.

Both women were also present in Court in compliance with the previous order. While they said they were at the Foundation willingly and that no one was forcing them to be there, the judges decided to interact with them in the chambers.

Thereafter, the Court said that it had "further doubts," and asked the counsel appearing for the Foundation, why Jaggi Vasudev encouraged other women to renounce the worldly life even though "his own daughter was married and well settled."

The Court will hear the matter further on October 4.