Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
::1::
APHC010070242026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3329] THURSDAY,THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA I.A.Nos.2 and 3 of 2026 IN/AND WRIT PETITION NO: 4114/2026 Between:
1. CH BALA SIVA KUMAR, S/O. VENKATESWARA RAO, AGE 50 YEARS, R/O. VENTHURUMILLI VILLAGE, GUDLAVALLERU MANDAL, KRISHNA DISTRICT-521332
...PETITIONER AND
1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRL. SECRETARY, ENDOWMENTS DEPT., SECRETARIAT, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT - 522236
2. THE COMMISSIONER, ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, A.P., VIJAYAWADA - 520001
3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT,KAKINADA- 533001
4. THE DISTRICT ENDOWMENT OFFICER, ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, MACHILIPATNAM - 521001
::2::
5. SRI RAMALINGESWARA AND KODANDA RAMA SWAMY TEMPLE, VENTHURUMALLI VILLAGE, GUDLAVALLERU MANDAL, KRISHNA DIST., -521332 REP. BY ITS EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
...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 writ order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the proceedings dated 21-08-2025 issued by the 2nd respondent for appointment of trustees to the 5th respondent temple during the pendency of application in OA No. 311/2020 on the file of AP Endowments Tribunal, Pedakakani, Guntur District as illegal, arbitrary and violative of principles of natural justice and pass Counsel for the Petitioner:
1. THOTA RAMAKOTESWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S):
1. GP FOR ENDOWMENTS
::3::
HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA
I.A.Nos.2 and 3 of 2026 IN/AND W.P.No.4114 of 2026 This Court made the following COMMON ORDER:
The present Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the following relief:
“to issue writ order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the proceedings dated 21-08-2025 issued by the 2nd respondent for appointment of trustees to the 5th respondent temple during the pendency of application in O.A No. 311/2020 on the file of AP Endowments Tribunal, Pedakakani, Guntur District as illegal, arbitrary and violative of principles of natural justice and pass”
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the 5th Respondent i.e., Sri Ramalingeswara and Kodanda Rama Swamy Temple, Venthurumilli Vilalge is a 6(c) notified temple which was constructed during the life time of one Chandana Abbanna with his own funds and he also administered the temple with utmost devotion.
And after his demise, the trustee rights succeeded to his elder son Chandana Narayanaswami according to the tradition and he served as a founder family member trustee
::4::
and died. Later the son of Chandana Narayana Swami i.e., Chandana Venkata Subba Rao became as a hereditary founder family member trustee to the said temple. There was a family arrangement in between Chandana Venkata Subba Rao and his junior paternal uncle Chandana Venkatadri, S/o Chandana Abbanna, as both have to maintain the temple and celebrate the procession which has to be happen every year, by one after other one. Chandana Venkatadri and Chandana Narayanaswami were continued their trusteeship and the family members were shown in Sec-38 register maintained under A.P. Charitable & Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1966 (Act 17 of 1966), which was prepared by the then E.O., Sri K.V. Pandu Ranga Swami on 06.12.1974 and the father of the petitioner i.e., Chandana Venkata Ranga Rao and his cousin brother Chandana Venkata Subba Rao were also shown as founder family members of the said temple. Subsequently the 5th respondent temple merged in the A.P. State Endowments Department by virtue of provisions of the Act 30 of 1987. The petitioner herein is a great grandson of Chandana Venkatadri and continuing trusteeship as a family member trustee of Chandana Venkatadri and also attending all the festivals in the capacity of founder family
::5::
member of the subject temple. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner being as a founder family member to the subject temple, submitted a representation to the respondents and requested them to recognize him as a founder family member to the 5th respondent temple, but the respondents did not recognize the petitioner as a founder family member, but suggested the petitioner to get orders by filing application before the Tribunal by letter No.268082/2019, dated 04.08.2020 and accordingly the petitioner filed application before the Endowments Tribunal and the same is pending for consideration. Hence the writ petition. 3.
Hence the writ petition. 3. During the pendency of this Writ Petition the petitioner filed I.A.Nos.2 and 3 of 2026 and sought a direction to the A.P. Endowment Tribunal, Pedakakani, Guntur District to dispose of O.A.No.311 of 2020 filed by the petitioner. 4. Right to expeditious trial is a right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and failure to dispose of the suit causing much delay at the cost of the parties would amount to denial of speedy trial. Therefore, the A.P. Endowments Tribunal, Pedakakani, Guntur District is hereby directed to dispose of
::6::
O.A.No.311 of 2020 filed by the petitioner after affording an opportunity of hearing to both parties and other stakeholders, if any and conduct a detailed enquiry and trial if necessary and pass speaking orders within a period of six (06) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 5. With the above directions, the Writ Petition No.4114 of 2026 and I.A.Nos.2 and 3 of 2026 are disposed of. Consequently, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall also stand closed. _________________________________ VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA, J
DT:16.04.2026 krk
::7::
HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA
I.A.Nos.2 and 3 of 2026 IN/AND WRIT PETITION NO: 4114/2026
DT:16.04.2026 krk
86