TD-Led Government Directs TTD to Redeploy Non-Hindu Staff in Its Own Institutions
An exercise by Vigilance conducted earlier this year found that 29 non-Hindus remain in the service of the devasthanam.
Tirupati: The NDA coalition government has asked Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to itself resolve the issue of its employees who are non-Hindu. The government has turned down the devasthanam trust board’s request to shift these employees to government departments. It has instead suggested that the TTD absorb the non-Hindu staff within its own network of institutions.
The recent GO in this regard has directed the temple administration to identify posts in its non-temple units where the non-Hindu employees could be deployed. The GO further suggested that it could examine whether voluntary retirement can be offered where feasible.
Following this order, the TTD has begun identifying vacancies across its hospitals, educational institutions, welfare centres and other subsidiary units. It is preparing a list of posts where non-Hindu employees can be redeployed. In addition, it is examining whether a workable VRS can be offered to some of the non-Hindu staff.
The TTD is compiling service records, job roles and institutional requirements to submit a detailed report to the state government as per the latter’s directive.
The latest development comes nearly a year after B.R. Naidu took over as the TTD chairman, reviving discussions on whether non-Hindus can continue in TTD service. In its first meeting, the trust board led by B.R. Naidu held that employment of non-Hindus by TTD violates the AP Endowments Act as well as amendments to TTD service rules, which reserve posts for Hindus.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams employs around 7,000 regular staff and nearly 14,000 outsourcing and contract workers. Although service rules had been revised in 1987, followed by amendments in 1989, 2000 and 2007, to restrict eligibility of employment by TTD to Hindus, 44 non-Hindu individuals entered the system through compassionate appointments, contract channels and outsourcing.
An exercise by Vigilance conducted earlier this year found that 29 non-Hindus remain in the service of the devasthanam.
In an earlier attempt to wean out non-Hindus, TTD board had offered a voluntary retirement scheme. But the package did not find any takers. With the government now ruling out redeployment of non-Hindu TTD workers in state government departments, the trust will have to rely on its internal institutions to redeploy such staff, while complying with the legal and administrative requirements.
