TTD to retire priests above 65 years

Chief priest of the famed Tirumala temple, Dr A V Ramana Deekshitulu lost his job immediately after the newly constituted TTD Trust Board met under the new chairman, Putta Sudhakar Yadav, on Wednesday.

The axe fell on Ramana after he levelled corruption allegations in the management of one of the world's richest temple.

The board also decided to retire priests after 65 years of age with immediate effect.

As a result, Ramana Deekshitulu, Narasimha Deekshitulu and Srinivasa Murty Deekshitulu retired.

On Tuesday, Ramana had claimed that the officials of the TTD have been running the temple as per their whims and fancies.

"I demand an open audit into the donations being received by the temple and expenditure being incurred by the TTD," he said.

He further demanded that the authorities bring the TTD under RTI and to maintain transparency with regard to donations and jewellery.

He also charged the temple's authorities with damaging the ancient structure in the name of beautification and for building special lines for VVIPs.

Reacting to Ramana's allegations, TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal said, " As per the decision by the TTD board, a notice will be sent to him seeking his explanation for making the derogatory remarks".

However, the trust board members clarified that the decision to retire archakas after attaining 65years has nothing to do with the allegations made by Ramana.

Reacting to the decision taken by the board, Ramana said no one can interfere in the working of the hereditary archaka system.

"I have been targeted for questioning the TTD's utter disregard to agama shastras. I will move court to get reprieve,” he told reporters in Tirumala.