New Delhi, August 22: The Supreme Court has set aside a Rs 5 crore environmental compensation imposed on Vyakti Vikas Kendra, an organisation associated with the Art of Living Foundation, over its 2016 event on the Yamuna floodplain in Delhi.

A bench comprising Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and N. Kotiswar Singh allowed the organisation's appeal, holding that absolute liability can be imposed only when there is a direct and established link between the alleged act and the environmental damage. In this case, the Court found no direct evidence connecting the Art of Living event to the damage caused to the floodplain.

The Court also noted that the National Green Tribunal had not provided the appellant with an adequate opportunity to present its case and had overlooked relevant material. It observed that the site where the event was held was already in a dilapidated condition.

While granting relief to Vyakti Vikas Kendra, the Supreme Court strongly criticised the Delhi Development Authority for allowing the event to take place on the active Yamuna floodplain.

“The manner in which DDA gave permission to hold an event on the active Yamuna floodplain was incorrect,” the Court observed.

It said the DDA had failed to uphold the trust placed in it as an authority responsible for protecting the floodplain and had not acted in accordance with its statutory obligations. However, the Court clarified that the legality of the permission granted by the DDA was not under consideration in the present appeal.

The Supreme Court directed the DDA to continue the rehabilitation of the Yamuna floodplain in accordance with the directions issued earlier by the NGT. It also ordered the refund of the Rs 5 crore deposited by Vyakti Vikas Kendra pursuant to the tribunal's order.

The rehabilitation work on the floodplain has already commenced and must continue as directed by the NGT, the Court said.

The ruling provides significant relief to the Art of Living Foundation and its associated organisation, while underlining the Supreme Court's disapproval of the DDA's decision to permit a large-scale event on the ecologically sensitive Yamuna floodplain.