Hearing of Sri Sri case put off to November 29

BANGALORE: The High Court on Tuesday directed the Department of Minor Irrigation and the trustees of Art of Living Foundation (AoL) to maintain the status quo, following a PIL by Bangalorebased advocate against AoL Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar alleging illegal encroachment of tank land and constructing illegal buildings.The petitioner N Srirama Reddy filed a PIL on August 12 stating that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had grabbed three sides of the Udipalyakere tank in Sy No 46 of Kaggalipura and constructed illegal structures. This is causing problems to preserve the tank, he had contended.Reddy further requested the court to direct the Minor Irrigation Department to demolish all illegal structures on the water spread area of 14.8 hectares, registered Achkat area of 42.52 hectares and canal length of 1.6 meters on the left and 1.8 meters on the right and to preserve the tank in the interest of public.The court had ordered issue of notices to the Department of Minor Irrigation and AOL on October 14.Acting Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice A S Bopanna directed the department and the AOL to maintain status quo until next date of hearing on November 29.