Tirupati Temple Board Suspends Four Non-Hindu Employees Over Conduct Breaches

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The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the esteemed custodian of the Sri Venkateswara temple, has suspended four employees following allegations that they are practicing faiths other than Hinduism, a direct violation of the institution’s established code of conduct. The suspensions, announced on Saturday, July 19, 2025, come amidst the TTD’s long-standing policy that employees must profess and adhere to the Hindu faith.

The suspended individuals have been identified as B. Elizar, Deputy Executive Engineer (Quality Control); S. Rosi, Staff Nurse at BIRRD Hospital; M. Premavati, Grade-1 Pharmacist at BIRRD Hospital; and Dr. G. Asuntha from SV Ayurveda Pharmacy. According to an official press release from the TTD, these employees are believed to have “violated the institution’s code of conduct and acted irresponsibly in their duties while representing and working for a Hindu religious organization.”

The action was initiated after reports from the TTD Vigilance Department and other supporting evidence indicated that the employees were practicing non-Hindu faiths. This move aligns with a resolution passed by the TTD Trust Board in May, which stipulated that non-Hindus working in TTD-run institutions would either be transferred to other Andhra Pradesh government departments or be offered a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). The TTD’s service rules, specifically Rule 9(vi) of the 1989 Service Rules (amended in 2007), mandate that appointments to any posts within TTD-administered or substantially funded institutions “shall be made only from among the persons professing the Hindu Religion.”

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar had recently reiterated strong objections to the employment of non-Hindus in the TTD, asserting that “Tirumala belongs to Hindus.” He questioned the continued employment of such individuals, stating, “Why are non-Hindus being given jobs in TTD? Continuing this practice, even after changes in government, is not right. I strongly demand their immediate removal.”

This incident follows a similar suspension earlier in July of an assistant executive officer, A. Rajasekhar Babu, for allegedly practicing Christianity. The TTD has consistently maintained that adherence to the institution’s spiritual ethos is non-negotiable for its staff. As discussions continue regarding religious freedom versus institutional guidelines in publicly administered faith-based organizations, the TTD’s actions underscore a firm stance on its employment policies. The board’s decisions highlight the ongoing efforts to uphold the sanctity and religious traditions of the revered Tirupati temple.