Yamuna floodplains: Supreme Court sets aside NGT order against Art of Living; directs DDA to refund ₹5 crore
Green tribunal had held the Art of Living Foundation responsible for the damage to the Yamuna floodplains during its World Culture Festival in 2016; court says the area was already in a damaged state
On August 22, 2026, the Supreme Court overturned a December 2017 National Green Tribunal (NGT) decision that had held the Art of Living Foundation accountable for damage to the Yamuna floodplains during its 2016 World Culture Festival. A two-justice bench of Satish Chandra Sharma and N.K. Singh instructed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to refund ₹5 crore deposited by the foundation within four weeks.
The NGT had previously directed the foundation to deposit the ₹5 crore with the DDA for floodplain restoration. The Supreme Court criticized the NGT for not considering the pre-existing damaged condition of the floodplain and for altering the original dispute into a fresh development proceeding, burdening the foundation with expenses they did not cause.
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