Amravati
18 employees have been removed from the world famous temple of Lord Venkateswara located in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple administration took this decision because these 18 employees used to participate in non -Hindu activities during duty in the temple. These Karmacharri used to participate in the celebrations of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). According to the order of TTD chairman BR Naidu, all these employees have been given two options. They can take this retirement or they can transfer to another department of the state government. If these employees do not do so, action will be taken against them. Last year, the fat controversy in the Prasad i.e. Laddu of Tirupati temple was quite popular.
Essential for the sanctity of the temple
TTD management says that this decision is in line with the commitment to maintain spiritual sanctity of temples and religious places. TTD is an independent government trust. It manages the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple located in Tirupati. It is the richest Hindu temple in the world. The TTD Act has been amended three times so far. It ensures that only Hindus should get jobs in the temple board and its associated institutions. In a government order issued in 1989, it was also made mandatory that appointments to the posts appointed by TTD would be limited to Hindus only. This decision is supported by Article 16 (5) of the Constitution. According to this article, religious or communal institutions are allowed to appoint members of their own religion.
Questions raised on TTD’s decision
Similarly, in the rules made for religious places by the Andhra Pradesh government, it has been said that the employees of religious institutions should follow Hinduism. This legal support was strengthened by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in November 2023. The High Court, while retaining Rule 3, confirmed that trust boards have the right to make service conditions compulsory, including the need to follow Hinduism. The matter is related to the rearing of Hindu religious practices and the terms of employment in religious institutions. According to TTD, these employees involved in other religious activities can affect the spirituality of the temple.
Action took place after CM’s statement
The incident has also questioned the functioning and policies of TTD. Should TTD interfere with private religious beliefs of employees? Is this a form of religious discrimination? The debate on these questions continues. TTD maintains its stance. He says that he is only protecting the sanctity of the temple. The whole matter has happened at a time when Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu said that Tirupati Balaji is a temple of Hindus and only Hindus have the right to it. There will be no mantra other than “Om Namo Venkateshwara”. I want to say some people by warning, now understand it or else it will be explained well. Chandrababu Naidu gave this statement when there was talk of conversion activity in the temple. Non -Hindus were also included in the management of the temple.
