The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Tirupati News : Stay on demolition at Tirumala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati

Stay on demolition at Tirumala

By Our Legal Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JUNE 29. A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court restrained on Tuesday the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and the State Government from demolishing the Peddajeeyar Mutt and the Hatiramji Mutt and going ahead with the construction of Mahaprakaram adjacent to the main temple at Tirumala.

The Bench, comprising the Chief Justice, Devinder Gupta, and Justice Rohini, passed these stay orders on a writ petition filed by Tirumala Seshukumar. The petitioner alleged that the authorities did not have any regard for Agama Sastras. The Mahaprakaram would be the fourth and was "violative of the fundamental tenets of Silpasastra." He charged that the TTD had violated its responsibilities. The blasting near the thousand pillar mandapam violated the sanctity of the Venkatadri hill. The mandapam, constructed by Saluva Mallaya Deva, had a great history and was not an ornamental structure. The TTD was "interfering in the religious affairs and sentiments of devotees" and that it lacked "inherent jurisdiction" to deal with such issues.

He referred to the recent meeting of the Peetadipathis, religious heads following Vaishnava sampradaya, where the execution of masterplan of the temple was opposed. The petitioner said that the Peddajeeyar Mutt was the place where Baghawada Ramanujacharya reformed, regularised and instituted the entire system of worship of the deity.

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