New Board has to be set up within a year
Picture for representational purpose
Tirumala:The state government on Monday appointed a ‘Specified Authority’ in place of a full-fledged Trust Board to manage the affairs of the biggest temple administration in the country — the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
The Andhra Pradesh state government invoked Section 137 of the existing Endowments Act on Monday to appoint the ‘Specified Authority’. It had almost been a fortnight after the state government brought the curtains down on the previous Board, led by former MP Kanumuri Bapiraju.
The state government has not been in a position to scrutinise nearly a 100 applications/representations placed before it by several aspirants to get nominated to the TTD Trust Board. Owing to the several critical issues arising out of the unilateral division of the state, coupled with the ongoing Assembly Session, the state temporarily appointed the ‘Specified Authority’ to buy time, till it sets up a full-fledged Board.
Under Section 163 with Section 137 of Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 (Act. 30/87) the ‘Specified Authority’ has been constituted. The principal secretary to the government, revenue (endowments) department, will be the chairman.
Section 137 of the Endowments Act provides for appointment of a ‘Specified Authority’ for a period not exceeding one year. The state government would not take so much time in constituting a full-fledged Board.
Meanwhile, the decision of the state government has come as a rude shock to the several aspirants within the party, who firmly believed that the state government would constitute a Trust Board.
State dismisses Hindu dharmika Parishad:
Apart from appointing a ‘Specified Authority’ in TTD, the AP government has terminated the Andhra Pradesh Hindu Dharmika Parishad, which was constituted by the erstwhile state government on February 11, 2014.
The AP Hindu Dharmika Parishad is the highest governing body in all matters pertaining to the administration of Hindu religious institutions like temples, mutts and peethams in the state. Its members are eminent persons belonging to the Hindu religion, who come from various walks of life. They supervise, guide and regulate the functioning of the Andhra Pradesh endowments department.
It may be noted that the Parishad was constituted under Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 with a chairman and 20 other members, including the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams EO on board and seven other members as special invitees.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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