Archive · 8 Oct 2026
London Court Resolves Yogi Divine Society Succession Dispute
The Yogi Divine Society is a Hindu organisation with centres in several countries.
Its founder, Hariprasad Swamiji, died in 2021 without publicly saying who should take over.
Two senior religious leaders, Prem Swami and Prabodh Swami, were at the centre of a disagreement about leadership.
Some trustees tried to change the organisation’s rules at a Diwali meeting in 2021.
A London court said those changes were not valid.
It also ruled that Prem Swami would keep his role as ‘Member A’ in the UK charity.
He will have the final say on major decisions made by its trustees.
The judge said the trustees were sincere, but that they had not followed proper standards of openness and governance.
A London High Court ruling settled a leadership dispute at the Yogi Divine Society (YDS), founded by Hariprasad Swamiji.
The dispute concerned whether Prem Swami or Prabodh Swami should lead the organisation after Hariprasad Swamiji died in July 2021 without publicly naming a successor.
The court ruled that constitutional changes made at a 2021 Diwali meeting were illegal and void.
The ruling keeps Prem Swami as the UK charity’s ‘Member A’ and restores his final veto over major trustee decisions.
Judge Simon Gleeson said trustees supporting Prabodh Swami acted honestly but breached principles of good governance, transparency and good faith.
- Who
- The Yogi Divine Society, including Prem Swami, Prabodh Swami and trustees who supported Prabodh Swami.
- What
- A London High Court ruling voided constitutional changes made at a 2021 Diwali meeting and restored Prem Swami’s final veto over major decisions by the UK charity’s trustees.
- When
- The hearing took place in July; the ruling was dated September 30. The article does not specify the year of the ruling.
- Where
- The High Court in London; the ruling concerned the UK charity of the Yogi Divine Society.
- Why
- The court addressed a leadership and succession dispute after founder Hariprasad Swamiji died without publicly naming a successor.
Prem Swami’s position
Prabodh Swami supporters’ position
Leadership and succession
Prem Swami’s position
The court’s ruling leaves Prem Swami as ‘Member A’ of the UK charity and restores his final veto over major trustee decisions.
Prabodh Swami supporters’ position
Supporters of Prabodh Swami sought to change the society’s constitution, including removing Member A’s controlling powers, to allow the charity’s work to continue without dispute.
2021 constitutional changes
Prem Swami’s position
The changes made at the Diwali meeting were challenged and the court declared them illegal and void.
Prabodh Swami supporters’ position
The trustees supporting Prabodh Swami sought the changes, which the judge said were motivated by devotion but breached good governance, transparency and good faith.
- Organisation
- Yogi Divine Society (YDS), a Hindu faith organisation founded in 1974.
- Founder
- Hariprasad Swamiji, who died in July 2021.
- Leadership claimants
- Prem Swami, 80, and Prabodh Swami, 73.
- Ruling
- Constitutional changes made at a 2021 Diwali meeting were declared illegal and void.
- UK charity position
- Prem Swami remains ‘Member A’ and has final veto power over major trustee decisions.
- Judge
- High Court judge Simon Gleeson.
- Organisation’s reach
- The article says YDS has 500 centres across India, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa.
- Reported income
- The article reports £1.62 million in 2024 and £680,000 last year.