Gadderalla Maremma Temple Vs the State of Andhra Pradesh

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH :: AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)

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MONDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE KIRANMAYEE MANDAVA

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WRIT PETITION NO: 5425 OF 2025

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Between:

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Gadderalla Maremma Temple, Development Committee Regd.^No.244/2007 H.No. 8-30, Gadderalla Village, Devanakonda Mandal Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh Represented by its General Secretary Cheruvu Nagaraju, S/o Cheruvu Dastagiri.

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...PETITIONER

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AND

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The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep.by its Principal Secretary Endowment Department, Secretariat Buildings, Velagapudi^Amaravati. Guntur District.

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The Commissioner of Endowments, Government of Andhra^Pradesh Gollapudi, Vijayawada, Krishna District.

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The Deputy Commissioner, Endowments Department Government^of Andhra Rradesh, Kurnool District.

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The Assistant Commissioner of Endowments, Department,^Government of Andhra Pradesh Kurnool District.

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The District Collector, Kurnool District Kurnool.

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The Executive Officer, Peravali Group Temples Kurnool^District.

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...RESPONDENTS

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Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction more particularly one in the .nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS, declaring the^action of the

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Respondents in merging the petitioner Gadderalla Maremma Temple into Peravali Group Temples without following due process established by law and not handing over the Gadderalla Maremma Temple to the petitioner for performing poojas and conducting Jatara is illegal, arbitrary, contrary to law and violation of Act 30/1987 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India consequently direct the respondents to hand over the petitioner Gadderalla Maremma Temple Gadderalla Village, Devanakonda Mandal Kumool District, Andhra Pradesh for performing Poojas and^{Jataratobeheldon} 18-3-2025 onwards.

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lA NO: 1 OF 2025

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Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the^{circumstances} stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the respondents to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 15-2-2025 by handing over the Gadderalla Maremma Temple Gadderalla Village, Devanakonda Mandal Kumool District, Andhra Pradesh to the petitioner committee for performing poojas and Jatara held on 18-3-2025 onwards pending disposal of main Writ^Petition.

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Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI GANESH BHUJANGA RAO VADDURI Counsel for the Respondent Nos. 1 to 6: SRI SRINIVAS PATHURI,

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ASST.GP FOR ENDOWMENTS

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The Court made the following: ORDER

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APHC010103672025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI

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[3458]

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(Special Original Jurisdiction)

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MONDAY THE TENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE KIRANMAYEE MANDAVA

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WRIT PETITION NO: 5425/2025

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Between:

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Gadderalla Maremma Temple

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...PETITIONER

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AND

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The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others

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...RESPONDENT(S)

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Counsel for the Petitioner:

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1.GANESH BHUJANGA RAO VADDURI

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Counsel for the Respondent(S):

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1.GP FOR ENDOWMENTS

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The Court made the following:

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ORDER;-

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Heard Sri Ganesh Bhujanga Rao Vadduri, learned counsel^forthe petitioner and Sri Srinivas Pathuri, learned Assistant^{GovernmentPleaderfor} Endowments.

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Challenging the action of the respondents in merging the Gadderalla Maremma Temple into Peravali Group Temples, the present writ petition is filed.

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2

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It is contended by the petitioners’ committee that the committee is registered under the Registrar Societies Act, vide Regd. No.244/2007 dated 05.01.2007 and they have been participating in the festivals being conducted by the temple of every three years. After the merging of the said Temple with Peravali Group Temples, the members of the petitioners’ committee are prevented from performing rituals of the Temple. Thus, they sought for the relief that handover the Temple to the petitioners’ committee and permitting the petitioners’ committee to conduct the Jathara to be conducted on 18.03.2025.

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Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Endowments has placed before the Court, copy of instructions, received by him in the case. Perusal of the same would reflect that after the passing of order on 22.02.2013 merging the Temple with Peravali Group of Temples, Executive Officer was appointed and the Jathara is conducted once in every two years. The Archakatvam services in the subject Temple have been rendered by the priests of a group of nine. It is further contended that the petitioners’ committee is a private committee, the petitioners’ committee is no way concerned, with the affairs of the temple.

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