Tirumala row: Non-Hindu TTD employees move Hyd HC over show-cause notices

The 'non-Hindu' employees accused the TTD of bowing to pressures from some Hindu organisations.

news Controversy

Employees of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) who were issued notices for their ‘non-Hindu’ faith, have moved the Hyderabad High Court, challenging the guidelines of one of the richest religious bodies in the world.

Urging the court to intervene in the matter, around 44 Muslim and Christian employees accused the TTD of bowing to pressures from some Hindu organisations.

The court issued notices to the concerned officers of the Andhra Pradesh government and the TTD, and the matter is expected to come up for hearing soon.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the non-Hindus who were working with the TTD were expected to be shifted to other departments of the Andhra Pradesh state government, for violating the rules.

Speaking to reporters, TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal, said, “As per our guidelines in tune with GOs issued in 1989 and 2007, non-Hindus will not be recruited either in teaching or non-teaching categories of TTD. We have identified 44 people who got appointed in the TTD against the guidelines since 1989. Majority of them are employed under the compassionate ground category. We are now contemplating sending them to other State government departments.”

The controversy of TTD employees practicing other faith triggered off, following the viral video of a TTD official visiting and praying at a local church.

The official was Deputy Executive Officer of TTD, Sneha Latha. She was accused of visiting church every Sunday in the official car belonging to TTD.

An internal probe was initiated into the incident. Following this, Vigilance and enforcement head Ake Ravi Krishna submitted the report this week.

Seers and Agama pandits took extreme objection to the incident and have been agitated over the employment of people following faiths other than Hindu.

Recently, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad appealed the custodians of the temple to identify employees from other faith and sack them