Isha doing ‘pious work’: SC urges mediation to settle row over gas crematoriums | India News

The Supreme Court on Thursday heard a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by an individual challenging the modern gas crematorium set up at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, which was earlier dismissed by the Madras High Court.During the hearing, the Chief Justice of India described Isha Seva as a “virtuous act” and suggested that an arrangement regarding alternative land to the petitioner could be mediated between the parties. The Supreme Court noted that the petitioner had already sold part of his land to the Isha Foundation but claimed that the sale was not for the purpose of constructing a crematorium. The bench advised both the parties to discuss and explore an amicable settlement regarding the adjoining land and both the parties agreed to resolve the matter through negotiations. During the hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, argued that the crematorium was creating a nuisance, that bodies were being cremated every day for the past few weeks and that the gram panchayat had violated local rules prohibiting crematoriums or cremations or graveyards without a licence. He also highlighted that the petitioner’s house was in a tribal area where cremation, rather than cremation, was the customary practice, and the bodies brought to the crematorium were about 30 km from the city of Coimbatore.The apex court appointed retired Madras High Court Justice Rajendran as arbitrator for the purpose.The Madras High Court had earlier dismissed the case, observing that “the petitioner has no legal basis. The gasifier crematorium has been constructed with proper Panchayat permission and within the rules. Further, construction of a crematorium, especially a gas crematorium, serves the society; it cannot be said to be against public interest.”The foundation said that residents of more than five village panchayats around the Isha Yoga center had requested the authorities to set up a crematorium in the area. It said that the Isha Foundation subsequently set up modern gasifier crematoriums after approval of the panchayat and necessary approvals from the concerned government departments including the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.The Isha Foundation says it has been operating and maintaining crematoriums across Tamil Nadu since 2010 with the aim of providing “dignity in death”. It currently maintains 30 crematoriums in areas including Besant Nagar, Coimbatore, Neyveli, Vellore and Thanjavur in Chennai.