In a significant development, the new Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board, during its first meeting on 18 November 2024, decided to remove non-Hindu employees working in the iconic Tirumala Sri Balaji Temple and surrender them to the Andhra Pradesh state government pool. The decision follows a statement by the newly appointed Trust Board Chairman, B.R. Naidu, who emphasized that only Hindus should be employed at the temple. Naidu’s declaration, made shortly after assuming office on 31 October 2024, set the stage for this move.
During the meeting, the board discussed a range of issues, including the fate of non-Hindu employees. According to Naidu, these employees will have the option to voluntarily retire or be transferred to other government departments. The decision to move non-Hindu staff came after an internal review, which found that certain individuals may have either made false affidavits declaring themselves as Hindus when applying for their positions or converted after joining. The Trust Board views both cases as a violation of the temple’s ethos and has decided that such employees should be removed from their current roles.
The meeting also covered other significant matters, including the revocation of the land lease given to the Visakha Sarada Peetham. The Trust Board has decided to cancel the lease and demolish the building due to several violations. Swamy Swaroopanandendra Saraswati, the chief of Sarada Peetham, was known for his close association with former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Additionally, the board addressed the long waiting times for darshan, which can extend up to 30 hours on some days. In response, they decided to implement Artificial Intelligence technology and engage consultants to reduce the waiting time to a more manageable two hours.
Another decision made during the meeting was to withdraw all TTD fixed deposits from private banks and move them to nationalized banks, further aligning the temple’s financial activities with government institutions.
The Trust Board’s actions reflect a broader push to ensure that the functioning of the temple remains in line with religious and constitutional principles, as they seek to reinforce the temple’s identity and governance.
(With inputs from Indian Express)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.