The Hindu : Front Page : TTD revokes suspension of officials

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Friday, Aug 15, 2008
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TTD revokes suspension of officials

Staff Reporter

Withdraws the termination orders of Officer on Special Duty

R. Prabhakar Reddy

TIRUMALA: The controversial Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD)’s ‘gold dollar case’ turned out to be a storm in a teacup with the TTD board of trustees in its emergency meeting held on Thursday unanimously resolving to revoke the suspension orders against three senior officials and also withdrawing the termination orders of Officer on Special Duty (OSD).

Addressing a press conference after the emergency meeting, TTD chairman B. Karunakar Reddy said the board discussed the issue at length and came to a decision that the action initiated against the three senior officials, R. Prabhakar Reddy (Special grade Dy. Executive Officer) A.Vasudevan (Deputy Executive Officer) and E. Ramachandra Reddy (Superintendent), was “not fair according to the sentiments of the agitating TTD employees who felt that gross injustice was meted out to them”.

N. Seshadri

In the same vein, the board felt that the termination orders issued on OSD (Parpathyedar) N. Seshadri was also unwarranted and withdrew them. Although the board attached significance to the requirements of the devotees, it felt importance had to be attached to the welfare of the employees.

In a bid to bring in greater transparency, the board ordered an in-depth inquiry into the affair and has appointed TTD Special Officer A.V. Dharma Reddy as the investigating officer. He has been asked to submit a detailed report at the earliest. Mr. Reddy clarified that the investigation will be confined only to the 300 gold dollar missing case.

To another question, he said the TTD management would be able to defend its stance even in the court of law.

A.Vasudevan

Further, he said that the board was totally convinced with the periodical verification of the ornaments of Lord Venkateswara. Stringent steps would be taken for safeguarding the valuable ornaments.

Soon after the meeting, the TTD employees union leaders raised slogans against the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer B.V. Ramanakumar and demanded his repatriation along with TTD’s law advisor Vikas to their parent departments. The leaders said they would not give up the agitation and promised to come out with a fresh action plan after August 16 if their demand was not met.

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