Subramanian Swamy Moves Supreme Court Seeking Court-Monitored Investigation Into Allegations Of Animal Fat In Tirupati Laddu
Amid the Tirupati Laddu controversy, BJP's Dr. Subramanian Swamy has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored investigation into allegations of substandard ingredients and the use of animal fat in the preparation of ghee and laddus distributed as 'prasadam' at the revered Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).
Swamy has requested the appointment of a committee under the supervision of a retired judge of the Supreme Court to investigate the allegations. The Tirumala Temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, holds immense religious significance for millions of Hindus worldwide, with its customs and traditions rooted in the Agamashastras and protected under Article 25 of the Constitution, as per the plea.
The PIL states, "Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple of Tirumala is considered one of the eight Swayambhu Kshetras of God Vishnu where the presiding deity is believed to have manifested on its own. At this juncture, it is vital to mention that the temple is revered by Alwars in Divya Prabandham. Furthermore, the temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in these books. The benefits acquired by the pilgrimage to Venkatachala are mentioned in the Rig Veda and Asthadasa Puranas, and it is described as the great bestower of boons."
The PIL alleges that recent media reports disclosed sensitive information regarding the quality of prasadam ingredients, which sparked political controversy and hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees. The petitioner has argued that the sanctity of the temple’s traditions must be preserved and that a thorough inquiry is necessary to maintain the purity of the offerings.
"Certain disclosures were made by various media houses and individuals in the public domain reading a very sensitive matter such as the content of the Prasadam distributed by the temple to its pilgrims, which ought to have been dealt within the confines of TTD with the officers of the TTD of the administrative machinery of the TTD seeking to divulge the same...the Petitioner proposes that certain disclosures must be made in public domain. It is respectfully submitted that the subject matter requires a deeper and a detailed enquiry as to the source of the ghee and timing of the ghee provided to the department/procurement of the ghee by the department be made in the subject matter, more particularly having regard to the interests of maintaining the purity and sanctity of the proceedings and of the traditions and rituals followed in the temples," the petition reads.
The petition also calls for stricter quality control measures for the procurement of ingredients used in preparing Prasadam, emphasizing the need for internal checks and balances within the TTD to ensure compliance with temple standards. The petitioner has highlighted the significance of maintaining the temple’s spiritual and cultural integrity and requested that the ghee used in Prasadam be subject to rigorous scrutiny.
"In a structure such as the TTD functioning as it did from time and immemorial, there ought to have been checks and balances internally to supervise and verify and check the quality, or lack of it, of the suppliers supplying various ingredients the temple which go into the making of the Prasadams. It is learnt and is also in the public domain that if and when the quality of the supplies to be undertaken by the successful tenderers in this regard, falls below the prescribed standard under the terms of the tender and/or the prescriptions contained in the practices followed by the temple, the said material is forthwith returned to the tenderer with a direction that they comply with the prescribed parameters without any let or relaxation," the PIL reads.
Another PIL has been filed by the Managing Director of Sudarshan News, Suresh Chavhanke, seeking the formation of a committee of retired Supreme Court judges or Chief Justices of High Courts to investigate allegations of adulteration in the preparation of the famed Tirupati Laddu, a 'prasadam' offered at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).
Cause Title: Dr. Subramanian Swamy v. The State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors.
