VIJAYAWADA
A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court headed by Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra on Thursday said that persons with criminal antecedents cannot be a part of the body that was appointed for the sacred purpose of overseeing the governance of Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD).
The court expressed this opinion during its hearing of a PIL filed by BJP leader G. Bhanuprakash Reddy against the “dubious” background of some of the special invitees to the TTD Trust Board. He was represented by advocate N. Ashwani Kumar.
The matters have been posted after two weeks for further hearing.
Appearing for another petitioner K. Lalith Kumar of Hindu Janashakti, advocate Umesh Chandra P.V.G. informed the court that the matter was coming up for filing counters from the other side as subsequent to the grant of interim suspension of the impugned GOs, the government had undertaken a legislative exercise and brought in an ordinance.
Intervening on behalf of the government at this stage, senior counsel S.S. Prasad said the ordinance might take the shape of an Act pursuant to the assent of the Governor and the same could be ensured, as a Bill had already been passed in the State legislature in its recently concluded Budget session.
Once the Governor gave his assent, the prayer sought by the petitioners would be amended accordingly.
