Published Aug 05, 2026 | 5:59 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 05, 2026 | 5:59 PM
Yadagirigutta Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. (Wikimedia Commons)
Synopsis: The Writ Petition prayed that the court declare the board’s appointment unconstitutional and void, stay the government order that created it until the case is decided, and direct that the founder-trustee be made chairperson as per law. Their case challenges amended Sections 96 and 97 of the Telangana Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, which they say now demote the founder-trustee to an ordinary voting member instead of assuring the post of chairperson.
The Telangana High Court has asked the state government and the newly constituted board of the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam, Yadagirigutta, to file their responses to a plea challenging the manner in which the board was appointed.
A bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin issued notices on Tuesday, 4 August while taking up a writ petition filed by devotee Nagilla Srinivas and founder-trustee Bhaskarayani Narasimha Murthy.
The State government on 30 June, issued a Government Order constituting the Board of Yadagirigutta Devasthanam with 18 members.
M. Satyanarayana Reddy was appointed as the chairman with MLA Vinod Venkataswamy, Konidela Surekha, Chilappagari Vijayarajam, Vijayender Tulla, Pochaboina Eshwaramma Yadav, Gundu Mallaiah, Swathi Kantamani, M. Raghavendar Rao, and Lakshminarayana Naik, as members.
The Chief Secretary, the Endowments Principal Secretary, the Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri Collector, the YTDA vice-chairman, the temple’s Executive Officer and the senior-most priest were designated as ex-officio members.
Also Read: Lashkar Bonalu: Oracle predicts heavy rains, fire mishaps; monsoon splash thins crowd on Day 2
The Writ Petition prayed that the court declare the board’s appointment unconstitutional and void, stay the government order that created it until the case is decided, and direct that the founder-trustee be made chairperson as per law.
Their case challenges amended Sections 96 and 97 of the Telangana Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, which they say now demote the founder-trustee to an ordinary voting member instead of assuring the post of chairperson.
They also alleged that it is in violation of Articles 14, 25, and 26, and contrary to the Supreme Court precedent protecting founder-family rights over temple management.
They have also questioned why the board was set up through an executive order rather than the gazette notification as the law prescribes.
A single judge had earlier, on 10 July, referred the constitutional question to the Chief Justice for allocation to an appropriate bench.
The trust appointments were previously at the centre of controversy when Endowments minister Konda Surekha was reportedly upset that the body was constituted without her involvement.
Also Read: Lashkar Bonalu begins, VIP influx irks devotees
(With inputs from Sreshta Ladegaam)
