Sri Kata Koteswara Swamy Devasthanam Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh

The writ petition is fil e d seeking a direction to the official res p ondents to prohibit the 5^th respondent from interfering with the daily rituals a n d pooja at Sri Kala Koteswara Swamy Devasthanam, Chillavaripalli, Tadim a rri Mandal, Sri Sathya Sai District (Erstwhile Anantapuramu District).

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Heard Sri K.Narsi R e ddy, learned counsel for the petitioner a nd learned Assistant Government P leader for Endowments appearin g for the respondents.

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It is contended that the 5^th respondent, who was earlier working as Archaka, was dispensed with from services vide proceedings dated 26.07.2023. He did not challenge the said proceedings so far.

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It is further contended that the 5^th respondent has been interfering with the daily activities and rituals of the temple. The petitioner has made a representation to respondent Nos.2 to 4, requesting them to prevent the 5^th respondent from interfering with the temple's activities. The said representation is still pending.

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Today, when the matter is taken up for hearing, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Endowments has placed on record a copy of the written instructions received from the 4^th respondent dated 28.02.2025. A perusal of the same would reveal that the temple was earlier exempted from the provisions under Sections 15 and 29 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987, (for short ‘the Act’) vide G.O.Ms.No.677, Revenue (Endts-II) Department, dated 17.10.2022. However, the said proceedings have been kept under abeyance vide G.O.Rt.No.145, Revenue (Endts-II) Department, dated 24.02.2025.

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Further, as per the records maintained in the case of the temple under Section 43 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987, the Chilla family has the right to perform Archakatvam. Therefore, brahmotsavams were performed with the

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participation of the members of the Chilla family, other than the 5^th respondent.

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Having regard to the contentions advanced, this Court is of the view that since the services of the 5^th respondent has already been dispensed with vide proceedings dated 26.07.2023, the respondent Nos. 2 to 4 are directed to ensure that the 5^th respondent shall not interfere with the day-to-day activities of the temple and its rituals, without authority of law.

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