On 30 September 2026, the High Court handed down judgment in Chatwani & Ors v Mehta & Ors [2026] EWHC 2455 (Ch). Following a 3 week trial, the Claimants, represented by Arnold Ayoo and Oliver Clement, led by Henry Warwick KC were comprehensively successful.

Mr Simon Gleeson (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge of the Chancery Division) found that the Defendant trustees of a charity, the English branch of an international religious society, had "connived in a scheme to mislead the Claimant Trustees" as to amendments to its constitution, in breach of the fiduciary and other duties they owed as trustees of a charity. The amendments were aimed at removing the position of "Member A”, which carries extensive powers over the charity's governance.

The Judge granted declaratory relief in the Claimants' favour, holding that the attempted amendments were of no effect and restoring the original constitution, including the position of Member A. That position is held by the Second Claimant.

The judgment discusses interesting questions about the nature of the duties owed by charity trustees, and the appropriate remedy to grant where there have been breaches of fiduciary duty in the administration of any trust, and where counterfactuals are given in attempts to prevent the exercise of any remedial discretion.

Arnold and Oliver, led by Henry Warwick KC of Henderson Chambers, were instructed by Sonia Ahmad of Banks Kelly Solicitors.

Read The Times' report on the judgment here (subscription required): https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/yogi-divine-society-court-dispute-j6hjh25w7

Read the judgment in full: Chatwani & Ors v Mehta & Ors [2026] EWHC 2455 (Ch)