The Madras High Court dismissed Nithyananda’s appeal to be recognized as head of four mutts in Tamil Nadu, affirming the HR&CE Department’s authority to appoint successors. The court noted no merit in Nithyananda’s claims of residing in a UN-recognized nation and emphasized that ongoing criminal cases against him should proceed independently of this ruling.
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Friday (Jan 31st) dismissed an appeal filed by self-proclaimed godman Nithyananda, who sought recognition as the head of four mutts in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts. A Division Bench of Justices R Subramanian and C Kumarappan ruled that the court could not interfere with the appointments made by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.
The High Court observed that there was no valid reason to overturn the previous decision of a single-judge bench, which had earlier upheld the HR&CE department’s authority to appoint a new head for the mutts.
Previously, on September 9, 2024, Justice M Dhandapani refused to intervene in the HR&CE’s decision to replace Nithyananda as the mutt head. This decision came after multiple rape and other criminal allegations surfaced against Nithyananda.
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One of the key concerns raised by Justice Dhandapani in his ruling last year was Nithyananda’s absence. The judge had questioned how a representative could stake a claim on behalf of Nithyananda, especially when his whereabouts remained unknown.
Despite this, Nithyananda filed an appeal earlier this month, challenging the single-judge order. His petition, filed through advocate Godson Swaminathan, argued that the earlier order had been incorrect in denying him relief.
In his appeal, Nithyananda claimed that he resided in Kailasa, which he described as
“a nation recognized by the United Nations, maintaining diplomatic relations with over 50 countries across the world.“
He also requested the High Court to issue an interim stay on the single-judge order.
However, the Division Bench found no merit in his claims and dismissed his petition.
While rejecting the appeal, the Madras High Court clarified that its observations should not influence the trial court hearing the various criminal cases against Nithyananda. The Division Bench stated that the trial court must proceed independently, without being swayed by the single-judge or the Division Bench’s rulings.
With this decision, Nithyananda’s claim to the mutt leadership has been effectively dismissed, reinforcing the authority of the HR&CE Department to appoint successors. The legal proceedings against Nithyananda continue, with no clarity on his whereabouts.
Case Title – Nithyananda Swami vs Commissioner
Read the Order here:
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