NGT seeks Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's reply

The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday sought Art of Living head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's reply on an application which alleged the spiritual guru had termed its earlier order as "politically motivated".

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued the notice and asked Sri Sri to file a reply within two weeks on the plea which alleged that he had shown disrespect to the tribunal's order asking the AOL to deposit Rs 5 crore as environmental compensation for a three-day cultural extravaganza held here from March 11.

During the hearing, the counsel representing the applicant referred to media reports and said action should be taken against the spiritual guru for the statement allegedly "scandalising the tribunal and interfering with dispensation of justice by the tribunal".

"Let reply to this application be filed then we will proceed with the matter in accordance with law. List this matter on May 25, 2016," the bench said.

During the hearing, it asked whether such statement was given by Sri Sri or was it reported only in the media.

AOL's advocate told the bench that the application was based only on media report and no such statement was given by Sri Sri.

Meanwhile, the tribunal reserved its order on the AOL's plea seeking its nod to accept the fine, slapped for allegedly damaging Yamuna's biodiversity, as bank guarantee instead of "payment of balance amount" of Rs 4.75 crore out of the Rs 5 crore.