TTD gold wall hits HC hurdle

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, April 21: The Gold Coating Project of Tirumala Tirupathi Devesthanams was stalled by the AP High Court on Wednesday.

A division bench comprising Justice B.Prakasha Rao and Justice R Kantha Rao dealing with a petition filed against gold plating of the walls of anctum Sanctorum of Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala under "Ananda Vimana Swarnamayam project ", stayed all further activity of the project.

The bench granted interim order while admitting the petition filed by Mr G.Raghava Reddy, president of Devalayaparirakshana Samithi. He challenged the validity of Section 97 and 97 B of the AP Charitable and Hindu Religious and Endowments Act,1987.

The bench pointed out that it was apparent that the government was meddling in the temple affairs. It was said that the issue of gold plating involves religious practices, beliefs and sentiments of devotees.

The bench opined that prima facie case is made out and the matter needs to be examine in detail.

During the hearing Justice Prakasha Rao recalled an incident which occurred 20-years ago at Tirumala wherein the deity of temple was painted in yellow by enamel paint after the endowments officer felt that putting turmeric every day was unnecessary.

The petitioner told the court that the TTD passed a resolution in September 2008 to take up the project. He said in 2005, there was a proposal to cover the Ananda Vimana Prakaram with gold. This was to be done by gold plating copper sheet and then fixing these sheets into the walls using bolts and screws. The proposal was placed before the Agama Sastra Advisers to the temple. Sri M.K. Srinivasa Bhattacharya had opined that the gold plating of the Vimana Prakaram would be against the Agama Sastras.

The petitioner contended that the Board was not authorised to take up the project which involves fixing heavy copperplates coated with the gold into the walls of sanctum sanctorum by drilling bolts.

He argued that this amounts to interfering with the religious functions of the temple and the project was in clear violation of the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Historical Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

He told the court that the age old inscriptions on the walls of the temple which are of cultural importance would disappear due to gold plating project. He alleged that irreparable loss would be caused to the cultural heritage of the country solely for the purpose of fulfilling the whims and fancies of the present board, which is in office for a temporary period of two years.

The action of the TTD board was violative of Article 25 and 27 of the constitution of India.

The court issued notices to the respondents directing them to file counter affidavits and posted the case after summer vacation of the court.