APHC010087352025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE KIRANMAYEE MANDAVA WRIT PETITION NO: 4933/2025 Between: Sri Kata Koteswara Swamy Devasthanam The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. K Narsi Reddy Counsel for the Respondent 1. GP for Endowments The Court made the following order: The writ petition is filed seeking a direction to the official respondents to prohibit the 5th respondent from interfering with the daily rituals and pooja at Sri Kala Koteswara Swamy Devasthanam, Chillavaripalli, Tadimarri Mandal, Sri Sathya Sai District (Erstwhile 2. Heard Sri K.Narsi Reddy, Assistant Government Pleader for Endowments appearing for the respondents. IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) THE ELEVENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE KIRANMAYEE MANDAVA WRIT PETITION NO: 4933/2025 Sri Kata Koteswara Swamy Devasthanam ... AND The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others ...Respondents Counsel for the Petitioner: Counsel for the Respondents: The Court made the following order: The writ petition is filed seeking a direction to the official respondents to respondent from interfering with the daily rituals and pooja at Sri Kala Koteswara Swamy Devasthanam, Chillavaripalli, Tadimarri Mandal, Erstwhile Anantapuramu District). Narsi Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Endowments appearing for the IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3458] THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE KIRANMAYEE MANDAVA ...Petitioner Respondents The writ petition is filed seeking a direction to the official respondents to respondent from interfering with the daily rituals and pooja at Sri Kala Koteswara Swamy Devasthanam, Chillavaripalli, Tadimarri Mandal, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Endowments appearing for the 3. It is contended that the 5th 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. 4. It is further contended that the 5th 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 5th respondent from interfering with the temple's activities. The said representation is still pending. 5. 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 4th 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. 6. 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 participation of the members of the Chilla family, other than the 5th respondent. 7. Having regard to the contentions advanced, this Court is of the view that since the services of the 5th respondent has already been dispensed with vide proceedings dated 26.07.2023, the respondent Nos. 2 to 4 are directed to ensure that the 5th respondent shall not interfere with the day-to-day activities of the temple and its rituals, without authority of law. 8. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, all pending miscellaneous applications shall stand closed. _______________________________ JUSTICE KIRANMAYEE MANDAVA Date: 11.03.2025 BSK 09 THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE KIRANMAYEE MANDAVA WRIT PETITION NO: 4933/2025 Date: 11.03.2025 BSK