FACT SHEET ON TIRUMALA TIRUPATI DEVASTHANAMS

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) was established in 1932 and was vested with the powers to administer the temple, including provision of facilities to pilgrims and also to manage the finances of the temple, with the help of a trust board

The scope of TTD was expanded first in 1969 under the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institution and Endowments Act and again in 1987 with the inclusion of more members in the trust board

The hereditary rights of temple priests were abolished in 1969 but were restored in 1987

The TTD prepares its own annual budget. For 2018-19, the TTD expects overall revenue of about ~2,894 crore.

Most of its revenues come from cash offerings in the temple offering box by devotees, followed by sale of worship tickets and darshan tickets, sale of laddu prasadam, hiring of dormitories and guest houses, auction of human hair offered by devotees and interest on investments made by the TTD This year, the TTD expects ~1,156 crore through hundi offerings, ~303 crore through sale of workship and darshan tickets, ~180 crore from sale of laddus, ~125 crore from accommodation rentals and ~125 crore from auction of human hair.

Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister KE Krishnamurthy, who also holds the endowments portfolio, said Deekshitulu was speaking irresponsibly. “He should have given up the priesthood to join politics,” he said.

Former TTD executive officer IYR Krishna Rao said the decision of the trust board to enforce a retirement age for priests was against the rules.

“Priests are not government servants, as they do not enjoy pay scales, increments and promo-