State, AP for out-of-court settlement of Tirupati land row

 Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have decided for an out-of-the-court settlement to resolve the dispute over a 7.5-acre land atop the Tirumala hills.

They will file a joint affidavit before the court to resolve the dispute, Additional Chief Secretary Ratna Prabha told reporters after holding a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday.

Karnataka had planned to construct a Pravasi Soudha (guest house) and a choultry on the land for accommodation of pilgrims from the state. However, a stay had been obtained from the Andhra Pradesh High Court following a petition by a private individual.

“We have been holding talks with the Andhra Pradesh government. We are confident the decades-old dispute will be resolved soon,” Prabha said. Once the dispute is settled, Karnataka will start building the guest house and choultry, she said. The land was donated by the then Maharaja of Mysore to the temple trust.