New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (November 8) dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the allegations of substandard material in preparation of Tirupati temple prasadam during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led state government of Andhra Pradesh,
A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan dismissed the PIL filed by one KA Paul, a social activist and president of organisation ‘Global Peace Initiative’ seeking a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of corruption and mismanagement surrounding the procurement and preparation of the Laddu Prasadam by the CBI.
We can’t direct that a separate state be created for a particular religion: Apex Court
“Going by your prayer, we will have to create separate states for all temples, gurudwaras etc. We can’t direct that a separate state be created for a particular religion. Dismissed,” the bench said while dismissing the PIL.
Apex Court on October 4 constituted an SIT to probe allegations
The apex court, while hearing a bunch of pleas on the issue, had on October 4 said that it does not want the Tirupati ‘Laddoo Prasadm’ row to turn into political drama and had ordered independent probe into the issue. It had constituted a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations of use of animal fat in preparation of ‘Laddoo Prasadam’.
What did the petitioner say?
Paul contended in his PIL that the allegations levelled by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu regarding the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of Tirupati ‘Laddu Prasadam’ have raised serious concerns among devotees and have tarnished the sanctity of this ‘Laddu Prasadam’.
Paul said in the PIL that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is one of the biggest sites for Hindus around the world and the ‘Laddu Prasadam’ of Tirupati holds immense religious and cultural significance for all Hindus and “any compromise on its sanctity not only affects millions of devotees but also tarnishes the reputation of this institution.”
Paul further said in the plea, “I have filed this petition in the interest of the devotees and to ensure that political manipulation and corruption do not undermine our sacred traditions.”
