Fri Jan 31 09:32:15 UTC 2025: ## Madras High Court Rejects Nithyananda’s Appeal Over Mutt Properties
**Chennai, January 31, 2025** – The Madras High Court dismissed an appeal by self-styled spiritual leader Nithyananda challenging the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department’s appointment of executive officers to manage four mutts. A division bench rejected Nithyananda’s appeal against a September 2024 single-judge ruling that had dismissed his original writ petition.
Nithyananda, who claimed rights to the properties based on a 2014 nomination by Swami Athmananda, filed the initial petition in 2017. However, subsequent disputes and complaints filed by Swami Athmananda, along with parallel civil court cases, led to the HR&CE Commissioner appointing executive officers in June 2017.
The High Court cited Nithyananda’s unknown whereabouts and questioned the validity of any powers delegated to his representative, further supporting the decision to uphold the HR&CE’s actions. The court also expressed doubt about Nithyananda’s claim to administer the mutt properties based solely on Swami Athmananda’s nomination. The ruling effectively ends Nithyananda’s legal challenge to the HR&CE department’s control over the mutt properties.
First Piper 