It asks the state government to consider exempting them from contributing to the Endowment Department.
It asks the state government to consider exempting them from contributing to the Endowment Department.
Justice R Raghunandan Rao of the Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to consider exempting temples with annual income up to Rs 5 lakh from the provisions of the AP Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987. Including the requirement to make mandatory contributions to the Endowment Department in the light of the Supreme Court’s decision.
“The exercise is to be conducted within four months from the date of order dated May 5, 2022,” the court said.
Justice Raghunandan Rao issued directions to the Principal Secretary – Revenue (Endowments); Endowments Commissioner; and the executive officer of the Sri Alaparthamma temple at Alaparu village of Nagaram mandal in Guntur district, while disposing of a petition filed by Allaparthi Venkata Chalapathy Rao, a member of the temple’s founding family, upholding the decision of the state apex court of Sri Divi Kodandarama Sarma et al. cited. AP
The petitioner’s contention was that registration under the said Act cast an obligation on the temple to make compulsory payments to the Endowments Department, which effectively takes away a significant portion of its annual income.
Therefore, the court said that the government should reconsider its decision to exempt only temples with annual income of less than Rs 2 lakh from making the said contribution, so as to exempt all temples with annual income up to Rs 5 lakh . Burden.