TTD Suspends Official For Attending Church Prayers, Cites Violation Of Hindu Code Of Conduct
In a statement on Tuesday, the TTD said Rajasekhar Babu was found participating in church prayers every Sunday, an act deemed to be in violation of the organisation's norms.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which oversees the administration of the revered Sri Venkateshwara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh, has suspended Assistant Executive Officer A. Rajasekhar Babu for allegedly attending Christian prayer services in his hometown of Puttur, located in Tirupati district.
In an official statement on Tuesday, the TTD said Rajasekhar Babu was found participating in church prayers every Sunday, an act deemed to be in violation of the organisation's norms. 'It is nothing but a violation of TTD norms as he has not followed the code of conduct of the TTD as an employee of the organisation, and has acted irresponsibly as an employee representing a Hindu religious organisation," the temple trust stated.
Based on a detailed report submitted by its Vigilance Department and other evidence, the TTD said it had taken immediate disciplinary action under its rules and placed the official under suspension.
This is not the first instance of action against employees for practising non-Hindu religious customs. In February, the TTD initiated disciplinary proceedings against 18 staff members, including six teachers, who were found participating in non-Hindu rituals. Among them were senior personnel such as a deputy executive officer, an assistant executive officer, and two electricians.
Following the instructions of TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu, all 18 employees were barred from involvement in temple-related religious duties and reassigned from postings at Tirumala or any other religious function. The disciplinary actions were based on violations of Rule 9 (vi) under Government Order No. 1060 issued by the Revenue Department (Endowments) on October 24, 1989, which mandates strict adherence to Hindu traditions by TTD staff.
First Published:
July 09, 2025, 08:22 IST
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