source: The HIndu, August 24, 2006

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister urged to make report public The Government constituted the committee after devotees resisted the move of the Endowments Department to take over the Chilkur Balaji temple

HYDERABAD: The three-member P.V.R.K.Prasad Committee constituted to look into the controversy regarding the proposed takeover of the Chilkur Balaji temple by the Endowments Department, submitted its report to the Government on August15.

Temple protection movement convener M.V.Soundararajan, in a representation to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Tuesday, appealed for making public the report as its outcome was awaited by devotees.

The Government constituted the expert committee after devotees resisted the move of the Endowments Department to take over the Chilkur Balaji temple. The devotees had even moved the Supreme Court.

The apex court maintained that the State Government should take an independent decision on the constitution of the board of trustees to administer the temple.

In light of the Supreme Court clarification, the temple's hereditary priest, Dr. Soundararajan, has appealed to the Government to exempt the temple from the purview of the Endowments Department on the basis of its unique traditions.