Justice R. Raghunandan Rao of the Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the State government to consider granting exemption to the temples having an annual income of up to ₹5 lakh from the provisions of the A.P. Charitable & Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987, including the requirement to make mandatory contributions to the Endowments Department in the light of a Supreme Court verdict.
“The exercise is to be conducted within four months from the date of the order dated May 5, 2022,” the court said.
Justice Raghunandan Rao issued the direction to the Principal Secretary - Revenue (Endowments); the Commissioner of Endowments; and the Executive Officer of Sri Alaparthamma temple at Alaparru village of Nagaram mandal in Guntur district while disposing of a petition filed by the temple’s founder family member, Allaparthi Venkata Chalapathi Rao, citing the apex court judgment in Sri Divi Kodandarama Sarma and others Vs State of A.P.
