Based on a committee report, the NGT had directed the Art of Living Foundation to deposit Rs 5 crore, noting that the event had caused damage to the floodplain.
Published: August 23, 2026, 7:45 AM IST
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Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
New Delhi: What can be termed a major relief for the Art of Living Foundation, the Supreme Court on Saturday ordered a refund of the Rs 5 crore penalty paid by the spiritual organisation over the World Cultural Festival event, which was accused of causing damage to the ecologically sensitive Yamuna floodplains in DelhiReacting to the development, Art of Living founder Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “Patience paysTruth triumphsToday, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has vindicated our stand.”
Patience paysTruth triumphs.
Today, the Honorable Supreme Court has vindicated our standhttps://t.co/16otPudwGx
— Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@Gurudev) August 22, 2026
What Did the Supreme Court Say?
The top court directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to refund the Rs 5 crore environmental compensation deposited by the foundationA bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and N K Singh held that there is ample material on record to show that the event site was already in a dilapidated condition prior to its handing over to the Art of Living Foundation.
“The material on record actually goes on to prove that damage, if any, cannot be attributed to the appellant…“The impugned judgment dated December 7, 2017, is set aside, along with all consequential and interim actions taken against the appellant hereinThe appellant is entitled to a refund of the amount of Rs 5 crore deposited by it to the DDA, in compliance of the tribunal’s order dated March 9, 2016The same shall be refunded by the DDA within four weeks from today,” the bench said.
The top court’s order came on an appeal filed by Vyakti Vikas Kendra India, associated with the Art of Living Foundation, challenging the NGT verdictBased on a committee report, the NGT had directed the Art of Living Foundation to deposit Rs 5 crore, noting that the event had caused damage to the floodplain.
The top court said the tribunal got swayed by the expert committee’s report that massive preparatory work was going on at the site and went on to conclude that by undertaking such work, the appellant had severely damaged the floodplain.
“This conclusion was reached by the tribunal without examining the contemporaneous evidence regarding the pre-existing damaged condition of the floodplain and the conspicuous failure of authorities to implement its earlier judgment in the Yamuna matter“Moreover, the finding was based on a report which was of a sweeping nature and was based on a subjective assessment of the members,” the bench said.
The court also slammed the DDA for granting permission to hold the event on an active floodplain and directed it to continue the work towards the rehabilitation of the Yamuna floodplain, as directed by the NGT.
“The manner in which permission was granted by the DDA to hold the event on an active floodplain of the river cannot be approvedIt was not only avoidable, but was also not consistent with the precautionary principle and the doctrine of public trust.
“We feel that the DDA was bound to act in a manner that the trust reposed in it, as the agency responsible for the rehabilitation and ecological maintenance of the Yamuna floodplain, is not shaken in any manner,” the bench said.
The court said the DDA was bound to take all preventive steps and precautions to avoid any further deterioration of the active floodplainEvidently, the authority failed to act in accordance with its duties towards the public at large, it added.
