Supreme Court - law insider

Alka Verma-

Published On: September 29, 2021 at 17:47 IST

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of India granted a one-week time to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for clarifying the irregularities at the Tirupati Balaji Temple.

The Court also asked the TTD to give response to a grievance made by a devotee of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy.

In his grievance, the devotee alleged that there are various irregularities in conduct of ‘sevas’ and rituals at the Tirupati Temple.

The Court also asked the TTD to clarify about the irregularities to the Court as well.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli gave the orders while it was dealing with Special Leave Petition which challenged an Order of Andhra Pradesh High Court.

During the hearing, the Top Court emphasised on the point that it can’t intervene in the matter of number of people performing pooja and how the pooja is being conducted.

However, after observing that a reference representation has been provided by the Petitioner, the Court ordered the Counsel who was appearing for Tirumala Devasthanam to find out what happened and tell the Court about the same.

The Court even asked the petitioner, Srivari Dadda to have patience.

“If you are a Balaji devotee then you must be patient. Every day you cannot threaten registry to list the petition. This is not done. We are also devotees of Balaji,” stated the Court.

It should be noted here that earlier the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed PIL filed by the Petitioner.

The High Court had dismissed the Plea stating that, “The respondent-Devasthanams cannot be said to be discharging public duties in the matter of conducting rituals. Such activities falling within the ecclesiastical domain are not amenable to writ jurisdiction at the behest of an outsider.”

Following which a SLP was filed by the Petitioner in the Apex Court.

The next hearing of the case in the Apex Court is scheduled on 6th of October.

Also Read: Supreme Court: Legislative Enactment cant take away Court’s Power of Contempt

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