Tirupati Temple Asks 18 Non-Hindu Employees to Transfer or Quit

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has asked 18 non-Hindu employees (Tirupati Temple Non-Hindu Employees) to either transfer to other government departments or opt for voluntary retirement. The move aligns with TTD’s long-standing rule that only Hindus should be employed in roles associated with temple management and religious activities.

Tirupati Temple Non-Hindu Employees Issue

TTD’s Decision to Remove Non-Hindu Employees

• TTD, which manages the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, has a policy that employees must follow the Hindu faith.
• The 18 employees in question were found participating in non-Hindu religious activities.
• They have been given the option to transfer to other departments or take voluntary retirement.
• TTD has clarified that these employees will not be allowed to participate in temple-related religious duties.

Why TTD Enforces This Rule?

• The Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act mandates that employees of Hindu religious institutions must follow the Hindu faith.
• The policy was strengthened after cases of non-Hindu employees working in temple affairs came to light.
• In 2023, the Andhra Pradesh High Court upheld this rule, confirming that temple management can enforce service conditions requiring employees to be Hindu.

How TTD Is Implementing This Decision?

• Officials have been instructed to ensure that these employees are not assigned temple-related duties.
• Heads of departments have been directed to remove them from activities such as religious events, fairs, and festivals.
• They have been barred from participating in any official temple proceedings.

Devotee Reactions to TTD’s Decision

• Many Hindu devotees support the decision, stating that only Hindus should be involved in temple affairs.
• Some critics, however, argue that employment should be based on merit rather than religious identity.
• TTD maintains that this policy is necessary to uphold the sanctity of Hindu religious practices.

Legal Backing for TTD’s Rule

• Article 16(5) of the Indian Constitution allows religious institutions to hire employees based on religious requirements.
• The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently upheld this rule in favor of TTD’s employment policy.
• Similar policies exist in other religious institutions across India.

Tirupati Temple Non-Hindu Employees Issue: What’s Next for the Affected Employees?

• They can choose to transfer to other government departments.
• If they refuse the transfer, they have the option to take voluntary retirement.
• They will not be allowed to return to temple service under any circumstances.

TTD’s decision to remove 18 non-Hindu employees aligns with its long-standing policy of ensuring that only Hindus work in temple management. While the move has received mixed reactions, it is legally backed and aimed at maintaining the religious sanctity of one of India’s holiest Hindu temples.