1 APHC010230732026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3329] FRIDAY,THE FIRST DAY OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 11966/2026 Between: 1. DANDE VENKATA SESHI REDDY, S/O. DANDE RAMA SUBBA REDDY, AGED 70 YEARS, R/O. 1-68, MAIN ROAD, LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYALA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 2. YERVA VENGALA REDDY, S/O. YERVA PULLAREDDY, AGED 72 YEARS, R/O. 1-98, LINGALA, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL,, NANDYALA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 3. YERVA VENKATA SHESHI REDDY, S/O. YERVA PULLAREDDY, AGED 56 YEARS, R/O. 1-29, LINGALA, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL NANDYALA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH -518134. 4. BEEMIREDDY RAMAPULLA REDDY, S/O. B. CHINNA SIVA REDDY, AGED 62 YEARS, R/O. 1-106, LINGALA, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL NANDYALA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 5. BHIMIREDDY CHANDRA REDDY, S/O. BHIMI REDDY CHINNA SUBBAREDDY, AGED 52 YEARS R/O. 1-84, LINGALA, KOILAKUNTIAMANDAL NANDYALA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 6. NUSI VENGALA REDDY, S/O.NUSI VENGALA REDDY, AGED 54 YEARS, R/O. 1-96, LINGALA, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL NANDYALA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 7. BYREDDY SUDHAKAR REDDY, S/O. BYREDDY PEDDA 2 SOMIREDDY, AGED 56 YEARS, R/O. 1-67, LINGALA, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL,, NANDYALA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 8. S. NAGESWARA REDDY, S/O. S SESHI REDDY, AGED 49 YEARS, R/O. 1-45, LINGALA, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL,, NANDYALA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH -518134. ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, REVENUE (ENDOWMENTS) DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 522238. 2. THE COMMISSIONER, ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, GOLLAPUDI, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 521225. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, NANDYALA CITY AND DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518501. 4. THE DISTRICT ENDOWMENTS OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, NANDYALA CITY AND DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518501. 5. THE INSPECTOR, ENDOWMENTS, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR OF ENDOWMENTS, NANDYALA CITY AND DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518501. 6. SRI SOMESHWARA SWAMY SRI SEETHARAMAIAYAMU DEVASTHANAM, LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYALA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134 REPRESENTED BY ITS EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY 7. BEKKEM PRATAP REDDY, S/O. BEKKEM VENKATA SUBBA REDDY, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 8. DANDE BALA KRISHNA REDDY, S/O. DANDE PULLA REDDY, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, 3 ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 9. DANDE SEELA REDDY, S/O. DANDE PULLA REDD, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 10. SIRIPI RAMESH REDDY, S/O. SIRIPI CHANDRA SEKHAR REDDY, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 11. SIRIPI BHUPAL REDDY, S/O. SIRIPI VENKATA REDDY, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 12. SIRIPI SUDHAKAR REDDY, S/O. SIRIPI JANARDHAN REDDY, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 13. BHEEMI REDDY CHINNA SUBHA REDDY, S/O. BHEEMI REDDY SUBHA REDDY, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 10. SIRIPI RAMESH REDDY, S/O. SIRIPI CHANDRA SEKHAR REDDY, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 11. SIRIPI BHUPAL REDDY, S/O. SIRIPI VENKATA REDDY, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 12. SIRIPI SUDHAKAR REDDY, S/O. SIRIPI JANARDHAN REDDY, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. 13. BHEEMI REDDY CHINNA SUBHA REDDY, S/O. BHEEMI REDDY SUBHA REDDY, R/O. LINGALA VILLAGE, KOILAKUNTIA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518134. ...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 topleased to issue an appropriate Writ, order or direction more particularly, one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus a. declaring the action of the respondents in trying to replace/change the Shiva Lingam and idols of Sree Ramulavaru, Sri Seethamma Thalli, Lakshmana and Anjaneya swamy Sri Someshwara Swamy Sri Devasthanam Temple, Lingala Village, Koilakuntia Mandal (6th respondent Seetharamalayamu temple) in order to perform Punah-pratishta (re-concecration) without any basis and without following the Agamas, customs, etc., as illegal, arbitrary, contrary to the Judgment rendered by this Honble Court in Yellanti Renuka v. State of A.P, 2023 (1) ALD 578, violative of principles of natural justice and violative of the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 and violative of Articles 14, 25 and 26 of Constitution of India b. consequently direct the respondents to not to remove the Shiva Lingam and idols of Sree Ramulavaru, Sri Seethamma Thalli, Lakshmana and Anjaneya swamy Sri Someshwara Swamy Sri 4 Seetharamalayamu Devasthanam Temple, Lingala Village, Koilakuntia Mandal (6th respondent temple) and c. pass IA NO: 1 OF 2026 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 may be pleased to direct the respondents to not to remove the Shiva Lingam and idols of Sree Ramulavaru, Sri Seethamma Thalli, Lakshmana and Anjaneya swamy Sri Someshwara Swamy Sri Seetharamalayamu Devasthanam Temple, Lingala Village, Koilakuntia Mandal (6th respondent temple) in order to perform Punah-pratishta (re-concecration) and pass Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. VARUN BYREDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR ENDOWMENTS 5 The Court made the following ORDER:- 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Government Pleader for the respondent Nos.1 to 5. 2. The case of the petitioners, in brief, is that they are the villagers and devotees of the 6th respondent temple situated at Lingala Village, Koilakuntla Mandal, Nandyala District. It is stated that in the year 2024, the reconsecration (Punah-pratishta) of the 6th respondent temple, including the idols of Sri Someshwara Swamy (incarnation of Lord Shiva), Sri Ramulavaru and Sri Seethamma Thalli, was performed on 19.03.2024 and that the entire reconsecration festivals was completed in the same year, since then the devotees and villagers have been offering prayers peacefully without any interference from any quarter. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that as the reconsecration (Punah-pratishta) was already completed in the year 2024, any proposal to conduct another reconsecration is contrary to law, Agamashastra, and established temple customs. It is further contended that the unofficial respondents are attempting to conduct another reconsecration without any permission or authority of law. Hence this writ petition. 4. On the other hand, the learned Government Pleader, based on the written instructions furnished by the 4th respondent–District Endowments Officer, submits that the reconsecration (Punah-pratishta) of the idols of the 6 6th respondent temple was completed about two years ago, and since then regular prayers, rituals and temple festivals have been conducted by the village elders and devotees. It is further stated that the temple is presently under the management of devotees and village elders, who are conducting day-to-day poojas and administrative activities. It is also stated that though the temple is a notified temple, it continues to be managed locally, and there is no proposal to conduct any fresh reconsecration(Punah-pratishta) as alleged by the petitioners. 5. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the material available on record. In view of the apprehension expressed by the petitioners regarding a proposed reconsecration (Punah-pratishta) is not substantiated. The written instructions furnished by the 4th respondent clearly indicate that no such activity is being undertaken and that the temple affairs are being managed by the village elders not by the any officer of the respondent department. 6. It is further observed that, though the 6th respondent temple is stated to be a notified temple, it appears that its administration is not presently under direct control of the Endowments Department, possibly on account of its income being below the Rs.5,00,000/-, as contemplated under Sections 15 to 19 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987. 7 7. In view of the above, the written instructions do not indicate any proposal for conducting a fresh reconsecration (Punah-pratishta), and only regular poojas and rituals are being performed by the villagers and devotees. 8. Considering the above facts and circumstances, this Court is of the considered view that the writ petition can be disposed of with a direction to respondent Nos.1 to 5 not to permit any reconsecration (Punah-pratishta) in the 6th respondent temple, as the same has already been completed in the year 2024. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, miscellaneous applications pending if any, shall stand closed. _________________________________________ VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA,J 01.05.2026 NNoottee:: CC..CC.. bbyy ttoom moorrrroow w BB//oo..RRM MDD 8 32 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 11966/2026 01.05.2026 NNoottee:: CC..CC.. bbyy ttoom moorrrroow w BB//oo..RRM MDD