Karnataka High Court Issues Notice On PIL Challenging Fund Collection For 'Cauvery Calling' Project

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued notice to State Government and Isha Foundation, headed by Jaggi Vasudev, directing them to file their objection in three weeks, to a Public Interest Litigation filed seeking directions to the foundation not to collect any funds from the public for the 'Cauvery calling project'.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Mohammad Nawaz gave the direction while hearing petition filed by advocate A V Amarnathan and posted the matter for further hearing on October 22.

As per the petition, Isha Foundation is planning to plant trees, across the Cauvery river from the birth place Talacauvery to Thiruvarur,  a stretch of 639.1kms. It has started its Bike rally from Talacauvery to Thiruvarur. The petitioner is closely watching the media report. The foundation is planning to plant 253 crores plants to save Cauvery River. The respondent is collecting Rs. 42 per tree planting from the public. That means it is collecting a whooping sum of Rs 253 X 42 in total of Rs, 10,626 crores . This collection of money from the public is very disturbing, according to the petitioner.

Further it says that "Foundation claims that it has conducted studies regarding the Cauvery Basin. But it ought to have submitted the said report to the State. And the state after deliberating the said studies should have given an approval. But no such process is carried out. The petitioner submit that no private organization can be permitted to carryout any work, on the Government land, without there being a proper approval from the state."

The state can not permit a private organization to collect funds for the project carried out on the Government land, the petitioner argued.

The plea prays for issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other writ in the same nature directing the respondent to stop collecting Rs, 42 per tree for 253 crores plant from the General Public. Direct the state government to look into the project of the foundation regarding the Cauvery Calling project and take appropriate steps.