Demonstrating that judicial review is available to charities operating in the UK, on Oct. 13, 2009, the Charity Commission’s decision to remove Nagedram Seevaratnam from his post as a trustee was overturned by the First-tier Tribunal of London (Tribunal).
The Charity Commission, a regulator on UK based charities, claimed that Seevaratnam had not adequately disassociated himself and the London area temple, Sivayogam, from the activities of the Tamil Tigers. Despite the Tribunal determining that Seevaratnam had engaged in certain “misconduct and mismanagement,” the decision found the evidence did not warrant his removal. The Tribunal was “most concerned” regarding the exonerating evidence brought by Seevaratnam that was not even translated (into English) by the Charity Commission. A spokesman for the Charity Commission said they will be issuing an inquiry report “in due course.”