TTD ghee row: Andhra Pradesh govt plans tough law, special courts to protect temple sanctity

VIJAYAWADA: In the wake of the recent controversy over the alleged supply of adulterated ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the Andhra Pradesh government is planning to introduce tighter norms to prevent such incidents from recurring. Making its stand clear, the government asserted that it will not tolerate any actions that compromise the faith and sentiments of devotees. Official sources said discussions have commenced with the concerned authorities to further strengthen quality control and procurement systems related to temple supplies. The government is also examining the possibility of introducing a special law to register criminal cases against individuals or organisations found guilty of supplying adulterated or substandard materials.The proposal reportedly includes stringent punishments and, if necessary, the establishment of a special judicial mechanism for the speedy trial of such cases. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu chaired a review meeting on Monday in his Assembly chamber with select ministers and senior CMO officials. Emphasising the need to protect the sanctity of TTD, he cited the example of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, which has special legal protection, and directed officials to study similar safeguards for TTD to preserve devotees’ trust.