'Faction' members lose court challenge against Soka Gakkai expulsion

Twenty members of Buddhist organisation Soka Gakkai Singapore (SGS) who were expelled for taking part in an informal study group have lost their High Court challenge against their expulsions.

- Selina Lum

The leadership of SGS was largely of the view that the existence and activities of the "faction" group were contrary to the interest and harmony of the association.

The 20 individuals alleged that they were not given a fair opportunity to be heard and that the leaders who expelled them showed bias and prejudgment.

In a written judgment on July 8, Justice Philip Jeyaretnam rejected their arguments and upheld the expulsions.

The judge concluded that the claimants were given a full and fair opportunity to be heard, but made a deliberate choice not to defend themselves.

"The claimants chose not to avail themselves of this opportunity and cannot complain that they were denied the right to be heard," he said.

SGS, an organisation practising Nichiren Buddhism in Singapore, is part of an international network of affiliated organisations.

It was first registered as a society in 1972 and then as a charity in 1985.

Under its Constitution, members can be expelled if they are determined by the management committee to have, among other things, acted against the interests or harmony of the association.

In the current case, the 20 individuals were in a group named Solidarity of Genuine Sensei's Disciples (SGSD).