APHC010671122025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3458] MONDAY, THE TWENTY SECOND DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE KIRANMAYEE MANDAVA WRIT PETITION NO: 34736/2025 Between: 1. DONTHUKURI VEERA VENKATA SUBBA RAO, S/O. SATYANARAYANA RAMA SASTRY AGED 55 YEARS, R/O. B.KONDEPADU VILLAGE, PENTAPADU MANDAL, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, ENDOWMENT DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. 2. THE COMMISSIONER, ENDOWMENT DEPARTMENT GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, GOLLAPUDI, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT. 3. 3. THE DISTRICT ENDOWMENTS OFFICER, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT AT BHIMAVARAM. 4. 4. INSPECTOR OF ENDOWMENTS, PENTAPADU MANDAL, GROUP OF TEMPLES, PENTAPADU VILLAGE AND MANDAL WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 5. 5. SRI CHAKRA KAMESWARI DURGA MALLESWARA BALA TRIPURA SUNDARI SAMETHA SRI KANAKA DURGA AMMAVARI DEVAS, , BAPULAPADU VILLAGE, REP.BY ITS EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BAPULAPADU VILLAGE, PENTAPADU MANDAL WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 2 ...RESPONDENT(S): 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 a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the action of Respondents 2 to 4 in not taking any steps on petitioners representation dated 31.08.2025 submitted to prevent the replacement of the ancient Panchaloha idols and further action of the 5threspondent in contemplating to remove him from the post of Pradhana Archaka of 5th respondent temple, for raising objections against removal of the Panchaloha idols, as illegal, irrational, arbitrary, contrary to law, violative of the principles of natural justice, and against the Articles 14 and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents not to replace the old idols with new one nor interfere in any manner with his functioning as Archaka in the said temple and pass s IA NO: 1 OF 2025 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 Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. SHAIK JAHANGEER BASHA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR ENDOWMENTS The Court made the following: ORDER: Heard Sri P. Karthi Kiran, learned counsel representing Sri Shaik Jahangeer Basha, learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Endowments and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent No.5-Temple. 2. Challenging the inaction on the part of the respondents in not passing any orders on the representation of the petitioner, the instant writ 3 petition has been filed. The representation of the petitioner, inter alia, seeks the punha pratistha of old Panchaloha idols in the Temple, which have been sought to be replaced with new idols during the renovation of the Temple, and also seeks protection of his rights to hereditary archakatvam at the 5th respondent Temple. 3. It is contended that the petitioner’s family is a hereditary Archaka and the petitioner is discharging his duties as Pradhana Archaka in respect of the subject Temple. The respondent No.5-Temple was registered under Section 43 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 (shortly ‘The Act, 1987’), and it has also been published under Section 6(c)(ii) of the Act, 1987. 4. When the matter has been taken up for consideration today, the learned Standing Counsel for the respondent No.5-Temple has placed a copy of instructions received by him in the case. A perusal of the same would reflect that the representation of the petitioner has been disposed of vide proceedings dated 18.07.2025 observing as follows: “The Executive Officer of 5th respondent temple and the Endowments Inspector have examined the petitioner and subsequently submitted a detail report vide letter No.106/2025. dated.18.07.2025 to the Regional Joint Commissioner, Endowments Department, Rajamahendravarm stating that punahpartista of the temple will be conducted with old Panchaloha idol only without any change, and continue the "Moola Virat" idols such as 1). Panchaloha idol of Simhavahana sametha Sri Kanakadurga Ammavaru, 2). Sri Malleswara Swamy vari Sivalingam, 3). Sri Balatripurasundari Ammavari idol and 4). Sri Chakram while punahpartista ceremony at Garbhalayam of 5th respondent temple and 4 idols of Sri Vinayaka and Vrushabeswarudu (Nandi) in antharalayam of 5th respondent temple.” It is stated that the petitioner was also served with a copy of the said proceedings. 5. Having regard to the above this Court is of the view that the grievance of the petitioner in so far as it relates to non consideration of his representation has been resolved. Having regard to the same, this Court is of the view that no further orders are required to be passed in the Writ Petition. 6. In view of the foregoing, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall also stand closed. ______________________________ JUSTICE KIRANMAYEE MANDAVA Dated: 22.12.2025 MSI 5 THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE KIRANMAYEE MANDAVA WRIT PETITION NO: 34736/2025 Dated: 22.12.2025 MSI