A division bench of the A.P. High Court comprising Justice G. Raghu Ram and Justice Ramesh Ranganathan on Friday expressed deep anguish at the way the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has been dealing with entry of selected persons into the main temple at Tirumala. It directed that the special entry be restricted to already notified persons and categories only.
The bench was dealing with a writ petition filed by B. Govinda Reddy on the affairs of Tirumala. The bench wanted the TTD to explain how the Mahadwaram entry with full temple honours was being given. The bench could not hide its dismay at the affairs and the attitude of the TTD in this regard.
The court was told that persons occupying six posts like the President of the country are offered poorankumbham and Mahadwaram entry.
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The other six categories like ‘Peethadhipatis', physically challenged, aged, etc., are given entry into vaikuntham complex and then brought into the temple.
The bench said that the special entry be restricted to these persons only. This order assumes significance in the light of recent controversies of given special entry to selected persons and the ordinary pilgrims being put to hardships.