NGT Unhappy With Sri Sri’s Remark, AOL to Pay 25 Lakh Immediately

The Art of Living Foundation’s World Culture Festival has been under fire for over two weeks. (Photo altered by The Quint)

The National Green Tribunal on Friday took strong objection to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s refusal to pay Rs 5 crore fine in connection with the three-day cultural extravaganza on the Yamuna floodplains.

The panel was disturbed with Ravi Shankar’s statement that he would rather go to jail than pay the penalty.

When a person of that stature makes such statements, it hits the rule of law. If anybody hurts the image of the tribunal, he will be taken to rule of law.

<b>National Green Tribunal Bench</b>

The counsel appearing for Art of Living Foundation said that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s statement was made in the context that it will be difficult to pay as the foundation is a charitable trust.

The NGT considered the plea and asked the Art of Living Foundation to pay Rs 25 lakh immediately.

The bench said it will attach the grant of Rs 2.5 crore sanctioned to Art of Living Foundation by Ministry of Culture for the extravaganza that commences on Friday if it does not pay Rs 25 lakh.

The panel also granted the Art of Living Foundation three weeks time to pay the remaining Rs 4.75 crore.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also clarified that the amount of Rs 5 crore be treated as environmental compensation and not as a penalty.

The bench fixed 4 April as the next date of hearing.

The order of the tribunal came on a plea by environmental activists seeking a stay on AOL’s World Cultural Festival in New Delhi from 11-13 March, alleging that they have not deposited Rs 5 crore fine.