Hon'ble High Court allows Writ Petition that Tiruvannamalai ashram of Nithyananda does not come under the purview of HR&CE

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30 January 2013, Chennai

The Hon’ble High Court of Madras today allowed the Writ Petition filed by Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam and set aside the showcause notice issued by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) claiming that the Tiruvannamalai ashram of Sri Nithyananda Swami comes under the purview of HR&CE as it is a Hindu religious institution.

The show cause notice was issued based on a complaint by one Mr. Sivababu, District President of Hindu Makkal Katchi, against whom there are several litigations and complaints pending. The complaint was a motivated one against Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam and its founder. This has a clear precedence as Mr. Sivababu and a few others had on 2 March 2010 entered the Tiruvannamalai ashram premises and assaulted the inmates and damaged the property and a criminal complaint was registered against him.

The Hon’ble High Court order clearly said that Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam Trust Deed and its objectives shows that it is a Public Charitable Trust and not a Hindu religious institution. The Trust Deed clearly shows that the institution is open to all people, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. The various construction activities on the premises are in accordance with objectives of the Trust to spread meditation and yoga and provide various social services to the public at large.

The Hon’ble High Court, therefore, allowed the Writ Petition is allowed and the show cause notice set aside, because even the show cause notice was uncalled for as it was based on a non-existent foundation.