Chennai: The Madras high court has stayed all further proceedings pending before the principal sub-judge, Nagapattinam, relating to a suit filed by controversial godman Sri Nithyananda Swami, which sought to declare him as madathipathi of a temple and four mutts in Tiruvarur and other areas.
Granting interim stay, Justice P.R. Shivakumar also ordered notice to Sri Nithyananda Swami, founder, Nithayananda Dhyanapeetam in Bengaluru, on a petition filed by Swami Atmananda and two other managing trustees of Sarada Niketan Samithi Trust in Salem district.
According to petitioners, Nithyananda filed a suit before the principal sub court in Nagapattinam to declare him as madathipathi of Sri Somanatha Swami Temple and mutt at Tiruvarur, Sri Po Ka Sathukkal Madam at Vedaranyam, Sri Arunachal Gnanadesikar Swamigal Madam in Panchanadhikulam and Sri Palasamy and Sakarasamy Mutt in Tiruvarur.
He had filed the suit as if he was nominated by a trustee as madathipathi of the mutts. He also obtained an order of injunction restraining the petitioners not to interfere with the administration of the mutt, they added.
They said they were the madathipathi of the suit property. They were in possession and enjoyment of the mutt and its property for the past several decades. Nithyananda was trying to grab the property from them. The nomination relied upon by Nithyananda was cancelled by Swami Atmananda by a communication dated November 2, 2015.
Moreover, the nomination itself was not registered as mandated under law. Therefore, Nithyananda has no locus standi to file the suit at all, they added.
