GUNTUR: Authorities of endowments department seized the canteen at famous Sri Malleswara Swamy temple at Pedakakani village in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district following the complaints from the devotees that the canteen contractor is "preparing non-vegetarian food" in the kitchen.
Endowments department deputy commissioner Emani Chandrasekhar Reddy inspected the canteen on Friday and suspended the licence of the canteen contractor.
He explained that a show-cause notice was served on the contractor on Thursday soon after getting complaints from the devotees and the contract was terminated on Friday.
He said that the contractor explained the non-vegetarian food was prepared outside the canteen but the truck carrying the food items entered the temple canteen enroute its destination.
He, however, said that they have decided to terminate the contract licence in in view of the gravity of the allegations.
He said that they seized the canteen and evicted the contractor from the premises.
He said that the canteen contract was given to a local vendor through an auction system and they were not aware of the fact that the vendor was involved in other contracts.
Reddy said that they would not allow preparation of non-vegetarian food within the temple premises.
He said that they would not even allow any person involved in preparation of non-vegetarian food to manage the canteen.
As per the contract, the food prepared in the canteen should be served to the devotees during breakfast and lunch as part of the Nitya Annadanam.
However, only vegetarian food is served to the devotees as prasadam.
The issue became controversial when the devotees found the non-vegetarian food items being transported from the canteen to outside.
They captured pictures and sent them to the officials.
It went viral on social media prompting the authorities to swing into action.
Meanwhile, Hindu organisations held a protest at the temple executive officer’s chamber alleging that the officials were deliberately encouraging such people with ulterior motives.
