Plea in SC over old notes worth ₹8.2cr in Tirupati temple

A devotee from Andhra Pradesh moved the Supreme Court last week, seeking a direction to the RBI and Centre to accept old currency worth ₹8.29 crore lying in various collection boxes of the Sri Tirumala Tirupati Venkateshwara Temple.

In his petition, VV Ramanmurthy, a journalist, said non-acceptance of the devotees’ offering to the temple was not only discriminatory but also meant that the wishes made by the pilgrims to the Lord will remain unfulfilled.

“That the pilgrims’ and devotees’ offerings made to Lord Venkateswara Swami was not accepted/redeemed by Reserve Bank of India, due to which about ₹8.29 crore consisting of old ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes were packed and kept in boxes with Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD),” read the petition filed by advocate Shravan Kumar.

The petitioner also said the board will be unable to utilise the money for the service it runs.

As per the government notification, possession of demonetised currency is a criminal offence. The main temple in Tirupati is the world’s second richest temple in the world. It has assets worth ₹50,000 crore and records an annual income of around ₹650 crore.

Not accepting public money meant for charity and service infringes on pilgrims’ and devotees’ right to practice and propagate religion. Therefore, it clearly violates fundamental rights that guarantee equality, life and liberty, Ramanmurthy has argued.

Another similar petition was filed by siblings who have asked for an extension of the window for exchanging demonetised notes.

According to Arushi Jain, 22, and Apurv Jain, 25, they found ₹60 lakh in old notes lying in the lockers of their parents who died in a road accident nine years ago. The two were given permission to operate the locker in March this year after they attained majority. The Saket succession court order came three months after the deadline to deposit such notes ended.