Tue Feb 24 03:40:00 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Andhra Pradesh Government Considers Reforming Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Governance Model Inspired by Golden Temple

The Story:
The Andhra Pradesh government, under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, is contemplating significant reforms to the governance of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the body that manages the Tirumala Temple. Inspired by the autonomous, legally-backed system governing the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the government aims to establish a similar structure for the TTD, potentially involving an independent committee elected by the Hindu community. This move is driven by a desire to maintain the sanctity of Tirumala and address past controversies related to the quality of the Tirumala laddu prasadam and the appointment of board members. The government is engaging with experts to assess the feasibility of implementing an election process and selecting spiritually adept individuals for the committee.

Key Points:

  • The Andhra Pradesh government is considering reforming the TTD governance model based on the Golden Temple’s system.
  • Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu aims to protect the sanctity of Tirumala and prevent controversies.
  • The Golden Temple’s management, under the 1925 Sikh Gurdwaras Act, involves an independent committee elected by the Sikh community, overseen by the Election Commission of India.
  • Currently, the Andhra Pradesh government directly appoints the TTD Chairman and members, leading to criticisms of political influence and lack of transparency.
  • The proposed reform aims to reduce political interference and prioritize individuals with spiritual commitment on the board.
  • The government intends to ensure that donations and revenue are strictly used for temple development and Hindu Dharma promotion.
  • Implementing such a system faces challenges due to institutional differences between Sikhism and Hinduism, and the TTD’s current affiliation with the state government’s endowments department.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Andhra Pradesh government is actively seeking to depoliticize the management of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.
  • The comparison with the Golden Temple’s governance model highlights a desire for greater autonomy and community involvement in managing religious institutions.
  • The success of this reform hinges on addressing the structural differences between Sikh and Hindu religious administration.
  • The move signifies a potential shift towards greater accountability and transparency in the management of one of India’s most important religious sites.
  • If successful, this model could serve as a template for reforms in other major Hindu temples across the country.

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