NEW DELHI: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam on Wednesday initiated action against 18 employees for participating in non-Hindu religious activities while also taking part in TTD festivals and rituals.
Following the directions of TTD Chairman BR Naidu, the employees are being given the options of either get transferred to government departments or apply for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). Failure to comply will result in further action.
The management said that that the decision aligns with TTD’s commitment to preserving the spiritual sanctity of its temples and religious.
TTD is an independent government trust that manages Tirumala Venkateswara temple in Tirupati – the world’s richest Hindu shrine.
Over the years, the TTD Act has been amended three times to stipulate that only Hindus should be employed by the temple board and its affiliated institutions. A government order issued in 1989 also mandated that appointments to TTD-administered posts would be restricted to Hindus.
The decision is supported by Article 16(5) of the Constitution, which allows institutions of a religious or denominational nature to employ members of their own religion. Similarly, Rule 3 of the AP Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Subordinate Service Rules states that employees of religious institutions must profess the Hindu faith.
This legal backing was reinforced in November 2023 by Andhra Pradesh high court when it upheld Rule 3, confirming that trust boards are empowered to mandate service conditions, including the requirement that employees follow the Hindu religion.
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