Nithyananda withdraws plea against HC order barring entry into Adheenam

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Mar 19, 2018 : Self-styled godman Nithyananda on Monday withdrew from the Supreme Court his plea challenging a Madras High Court order that restrained him from acting as pontiff and barred his entry into Madurai Adheenam Mutt.

 

Established about 2,000 years ago, it is regarded as the oldest Saivite mutt, near Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai.

Advocate Sanjay M Nuli, representing Nithyananda, sought permission from a bench of Justices N V Ramana and S Abdul Nazeer, to withdraw the special leave petition against the interim order passed on October 11, 2017, by the Madurai bench.

He submitted that the final judgement has already been passed in the matter and the petitioner would prefer to file the writ appeal before the high court.

"In view of the request made, the special leave petitions are dismissed as withdrawn," the bench ordered.

Nithyananda challenged the interim order contending that it has affected his fundamental right to worship and religion guaranteed under the Constitution. He claimed M Jagathalapradapan, who filed the writ petition against his nomination, is one of those who wants to tarnish his image.

Though he carried out as junior pontiff of the Adheenam Mutt, the high court entertained a writ petition and passed interim orders, disregarding the fact that similar plea was rejected in 2012, his plea stated.

Forty-year-old, Nithyananda, who established an ashram in Bengaluru, and various other places across the world, including in Toronto and Los Angles, claimed he belonged to Thondaimandala Saiva Velalar community, which is one of the communities from which pontiffs were appointed to the Mutt.

On April 27, 2012, Sri-La-Sri Arunagirinatha Sri Gnansambanda Desika Parmacharya Swamigal, 292 Madathipathi, has declared that the appointment of the petitioner as 293 junior pontiff was permanent and irrevocable, he said.


courtesy:DHNS