HC dismisses priest’s plea over temple post at TTD

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh high court has dismissed a petition filed by priest Srinivasa Deekshitulu, who sought a directive for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) executive officer (EO) to appoint him as the head priest of Srivari Temple in Tirumala. The court ruled that transfers made for administrative convenience fall within the employer's discretion and that judicial review is limited in such cases.
Justice Mandava Kiranmayi, delivering the verdict on April 1, stated that a petitioner cannot claim the right to a specific posting unless it is proven that the transfer was made unilaterally with malice. Since no such proof was provided, the lawsuit was dismissed.
Srinivasa Deekshitulu, currently serving as the head priest of Govindaraja Swamy Temple in Tirupati, had filed the petition in Dec, 2022, challenging the TTD EO's decision. He argued that no member of his family had been given the head priest's position at Srivari Temple for the past five years. The TTD counter in the case clarified that priest postings were determined based on administrative needs and that Deekshitulu had already been appointed head priest of Govindaraja Swamy Temple. The court noted that within just three months of this posting, Deekshitulu had filed a petition requesting a transfer to Srivari Temple.
The court upheld TTD's stand that priest appointments are made based on experience and temple requirements, following a structured process for families traditionally serving in different temples, including Tirupatammavari, Gollapallivari, and Paidipallivari families.
After considering these factors, the high court ruled that TTD retains full authority over transfer decisions and rejected Deekshitulu's petition.