Archakas can work till fit, says Hyderabad High Court
He directed the TTD to forthwith restore the services of the affected archakas as Sambhavana archakas in the temple.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday set aside the decision of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam fixing the retirement age of hereditary archakas and mirasis at 65 years.
It said the TTD had no jurisdiction to pass such resolutions by comparing hereditary archakas and mirasis with other employees.
Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao was dealing with a petition of Mr A.B. Seshadri and another hereditary archaka of Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple in Tiruchanoor.
He directed the TTD to forthwith restore the services of the affected archakas as Sambhavana archakas in the temple and allow them to discharge their duties as long as they are physically fit.
The said the TTD was illegal and unconstitutional, holding that there was no rule framed by the AP government regarding the age of superannuation of families of the hereditary archakas who have been employed since 2006.
The judge said, “Special status to the hereditary archakas was given with a view to preserving customs and usage and sanctity of religious rituals handed to the present generation of archakas from their ancestors and ensure that traditional rituals are performed strictly as per the particular shastra governing the temple”.
The court came to the conclusion that the TTD did not keep in mind these factors and erroneously decided on the age of superannuation by treating hereditary archakas as other employees.