Visakhapatnam: The Sampath Vinayaka Temple in Asilmetta here receives huge income from its hundi every day. It sees huge arrival of devotees on special days. The temple's annual income is in the range of Rs 3 crore. However, the failure of the authorities to post an Executive Officer (EO) to oversee the funds use is a serious worry among its devotees.
“The Sampath Vinayaka temple's everyday income is in the range of Rs 70,000, but on festival and New Year days, this income increases further,” a senior functionary of the Endowment department said.
Due to its high income, the temple was brought under the AP endowment department in 1996. The temple’s founders, the TR Rajeswaran Cholan family, appealed to the then government to take care of the management of the temple along with government officials.
After a few years, officials of the endowment department took charge of the temple and appointed an EO. Again, on Nov 16, 2018, the TR Rajeswaran Cholan family got an exemption for five years to run the temple affairs without an EO.
Administrative exemption had been given to this temple by citing Section 29 of the Endowment Department Act 30/87. These orders were given in the name of TR Rajeshwaran's son TR Cholan. Since then, the temple administration has been under his control and he has the sole authority to issue bank cheques in the name of the temple.
Two years ago, K Shanthi, who came to Vizag as assistant commissioner of the endowment department, concentrated her attention on the Sampath temple. Following this, the government issued special orders as GO 107 on May 17, 2021 and appointed her as the EO of the temple. She shared the cheque issue power with TR Cholan.
As EO, Shanthi started an investigation into the allegations of irregularities in the temple. Taking this as an insult, the Cholan family approached the high court. A writ petition, 10945/2021, was filed by the family against the endowment department. The petition alleged that the department acted unfairly without giving prior notice to the family about the change of administration. “The department appointed an EO for the temple without even conducting an investigation and without disclosing the defects,” the Cholan family argued before the court.
The high court issued an interim order on June 10, 2021, asking the endowment department not to interfere in the administrative affairs of the temple for five years. Assistant commissioner Shanti was asked to step back from there as EO. The Cholan family regained full powers over the temple and got restored their solo bank cheque power.
The five years of ‘EO post-exemption’ period ended on Nov15 2023. Officials in Vizag have received a letter from the commissioner of the endowment department in this respect. Even after a month of completion of the EO exception period, the endowment department failed to take necessary action. At present, The Sampath Vinayaka temple is conducting a special homam with a fund of Rs 25 lakh.
