SC issues warrant against Pondy sisters for defying its order

The Supreme Court has issued a warrant against five sisters, all inmates of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, for defying its orders to leave the premises by July 31 and for failing to appear before it on October 13 following contempt of court notices to them. The sisters Jayashreee Prasad, Arunashri, Rajyashree, Nivedita and Hemlata have been litigating against the ashram for over a decade alleging harassment.

Justices Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya and ?S A Bobde, while hearing a contempt of court petition filed by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, directed the superintendent of police to execute its order and posted the matter for further proceedings on December 2. "In spite of service of notice, respondents have not filed affidavit nor appeared in the court. In the circumstances, we issue bailable warrant against alleged contemnor respondents. Copy of this order be forwarded to superintendent of police, Puducherry, for execution of the court's order," they said in their order dated October 13.

The court refused to buy the argument of the sisters that they were ready to appear before it but had no money to pay for their tickets, boarding and lodging. The SC assistant registrar, in an office report, said the contempt notice had been served to the women by Speed Post and through the district court. He said the service report had been received from the district court with endorsement, 'Alleged contemnors 1 to 5 served in person'. "A letter has been received from all the respondents stating therein that they have received the notice on September 22 and ready to appear before the honourable court but they have no money or income to pay for their tickets, boarding and lodging," the assistant registrar said in his report.