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A Supreme Court bench lead by Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V.Ramana refused to interfere in the matter pertaining to irregularities in rituals performed at Tirumala Tirupati. The court  while disposing the petition asked the Petitioner, Srivari Dadaa to file a civil suit instead as the matter requires adducing of evidence by the Petitioner and the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD), the court also noted that a constitutional court cannot get into matters pertaining to rituals performed in a temple. 

The bench also comprising of Justice A.S.Bopanna and Hima Kolhi, further noted that the court can interfere into aspects pertaining to the TTD ignoring the rules and regulations of the temple or indulging in violation of the arrangements. The court further directed TTD to respond to the petitioners grievance relating to violation of rules and regulations of the temple within 8 weeks. 

Background: 

Srivari Dada, a devotee of Sri Venkateshwara Swamy, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams had filed a PIL before the Andhra Pradesh High Court stating that the respondent –Devasthanam is performing sevas namely, i) Abhishekam Seva, 2) Thomala Seva, 3) Arjitha Brahmostavam 4) Yekanta Utsavalu (Srivari Varshika Brahmotsavams – 2020) and 5) Maha Laghu Darshan, in a wrongful and irregular procedure. 

The Andhra Pradesh High Court, while dismissing the PIL, had on January 1, 2020 observed that since the procedure of conducting rituals is the exclusive domain of the Devasthanam, it could cannot be a matter of adjudication unless it impacts secular or civil rights of others.

A bench of Justice Joymala Bagchi and C. Praveen Kumar had further noted that the Devasthanam could not be said to be discharging public duties in the matter of conducting rituals. "Such activities falling within ecclesiastical domain are not amenable to writ jurisdiction at the behest of an outsider," the court had observed.

The Petitioner had approached the Supreme Court challenging this order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The Supreme Court had directed the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to file its response to this plea.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams had filed its affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that the Sevas to the Lord Venkateswara are performed by Archakas under the supervision of His Holiness Pedda Jeeyangar Swamy and Chinnayajeeyangar Swamy strictly in accordance with the Vaikhanasa Agama and that the system has been running perfectly since the past thousand years.

The Devastanam had an Affidavit by the Executive officer, Dr. K S Jawahar Reddy of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams through Advocate Satya Sabharwal on the last date of hearing. According to the affidavit "There are perfect checks and balances introduced by His Holiness Ramanujacharya to ensure the sevas / utsavams are conducted strictly in accordance with Vaikhanasa Agama. The system is running perfectly since a thousand years."

 

Case Title: Srivari Daadaa Vs. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)