For the first time in recent years, there is no representation for Tamil Nadu on the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board of Trustees that was constituted on Saturday.
The TTD board has remained without trustees for more than a year. On Saturday, the Government of Andhra Pradesh issued orders nominating 18 persons to the Board, including four MLAs and three ex-official members, for two years. Infosys Foundation chairperson Sudha Murthy has been included.
Though it is not mandatory to give representation to Tamil Nadu, former Board Member and Southern Railway Mazdoor Union general secretary N. Kanniah said it was more a goodwill gesture since at least 50% of the pilgrims visiting Tirumala are from Tamil Nadu.
Only Hindus
Appointment to the Board of Trustees is made under the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Chartable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987. Going by the rules, only a person belonging to the Hindu religion can become a Board member.
However, the appointments got political over the years with more elected representatives, industrialists and celebrities finding a place on the panel.
According to a TTD official, representatives from Tamil Nadu have contributed to the development of the world famous temple in many ways. They actively participated in board meetings and played a role in bringing about changes that benefitted pilgrims.
Proposal from CM
While former trustees like N. Srinivasan of India Cements have donated buildings for pilgrims, J. Sekar Reddy of JSR Infra Developers Private Ltd, who was a Board Member in 2015-17 (before he was dropped following his arrest) built cottages and agreed to sponsor the ‘Gopradhaksana Shala’ or Goshala, which is nearing completion. Representation to Tamil Nadu in the TTD Board has always been by way of a proposal from the Chief Minister of the State.
The State not having anyone on the board this year comes as Tamil Nadu is seeking representation on the Travancore Devaswom Board that manages the Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, Kerala.
