Defend Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj Trust Dehradun

Devotees and Trustees of Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj Trust Dehradun are appealing for support to defend the noble institution established for the public good by beloved Guru Shri Shivabalayogi Swamiji. His aim was to provide a sanctuary open to all without discrimination for the practice of meditation and sadhana for peaceful and harmonious living.

In recent years, devotees and residents of the Dehradun Ashram have faced increasing disturbances, threats and outright violence believed to be orchestrated by Nripendra Singh, who now occupies the annex guesthouse building on land situated to the rear of the Ashram. Claiming to be the nephew of the late Soldier Saint respected General Hanut Singh, who resided and performed sadhana in the same annex guesthouse building with the permission of Shri Swamiji until his passing in 2015, Nripendra has been constantly attempting to encroach onto Ashram property through illegal constructions and by bringing in troublemaker elements of society to disrupt the peaceful public activities of the Ashram, resulting in incidents where Ashram Trustees have had to call the local police for protection.

In a 2013 ruling, following official measurements of the lay of the land, the City Magistrate of Dehradun ruled that the land on which the annex guesthouse building had been constructed actually belonged to the government. However, paying due consideration to the exalted achievements of General Hanut Singh, the Magistrate's decision of 2013 stated that the General should be permitted to remain in the building until his passing, after which the land should revert to the government.

Since the passing of General Hanut Singh in 2015, the annex guesthouse building has been occupied illegally by Nripendra Singh, who has been using it as a personal household. He has publicly claimed the building to be a 'memorial' to the late General, but the truth is that neither the public nor Ashram devotees or Trustees have been permitted entry into the building, nor is there any official or recognised 'memorial' established there in the respected memory of the great Solder Saint General Hanut Singh.

Now, as part of a wider drive against encroachment on government land in Dehradun being carried out on the orders of the High Court, local authorities have decided to seal this annex guesthouse building because it stands on government land. Nripendra Singh and his retinue of servants have been evicted, and the building sealed by officials who have made clear that no one may enter the premises except with official permission.

Nripendra Singh has refused to accept this order and is aggressively spreading misinformation to manipulate the sentiments of the public, particularly of ex-servicemen. Whereas Nripendra's motives are entirely of personal greed for the property that stands on government land, he is framing the incident as an insult by the officials in sealing the self-claimed 'memorial' to the General. In the process he is making baseless accusations against the devotees and Trustees of Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj Trust, including its current Chairman Shri Shivarudra Balayogi Maharaj, and Amba Shivaranjani, who have cooperated fully with all decisions made by the authorities. He has also been obstructive to the efforts of the Ashram to reconstruct the main boundary wall of the Ashram along the line demarcated by the local authorities, thus compromising the safety and security of all residents and visitors to the Ashram with the boundary wall currently having been demolished.

Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj Trust unreservedly pledges to cooperate with all official directives, and is also prepared solely to take care of the annex guesthouse building under the Trust and in future the Trust would be willing to open it as a memorial. Such a memorial would be treated with reverence it rightfully deserves and be accessible to all devotees to pay their respects without any discrimination.

Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj Trust, headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, was established for the public good and not for the interests of any particular individuals. We humbly seek the support of the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand against the unceasing aggressive money-powered tactics employed to spread falsehoods with an ulterior motive of illegally seizing ownership of government land for personal gain and enjoyment.