Tirupati: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the official custodian of Sri Venkateswara temple here, has suspended four employees based on allegations that they are non-Hindus and practising other religions.
The temple body suspended Deputy Executive Engineer (quality control) B Elizar, staff nurse of BIRRD Hospital, S Rosi, grade-1 pharmacist of BIRRD Hospital, M Premavati and G Asuntha from SV Ayurveda Pharmacy.
“TTD has suspended four of its employees on the grounds of allegations that they practise other faiths,” said an official press release on Saturday.
These employees are believed to have violated the institution’s code of conduct and acted irresponsibly in their duties while representing and working for a Hindu religious organisation, it said.
After examining the report submitted by the TTD Vigilance Department and other evidence, departmental action was taken against them as per the rules and the four employees were immediately suspended. They will be paid 50 per cent of their salary during the suspension period, the release added.
In May, the TTD announced that non-Hindu working staffers at various departments would either be transferred to other departments of the Andhra Pradesh government or could opt for voluntary retirement.
In July, the TTD had suspended an Assistant Executive Officer A Rajasekhar Babu for attending church prayers every Sunday in his hometown, Puttur, in Tirupati district.
In February, TTD initiated disciplinary action against 18 employees for practising non-Hindu religious customs and traditions.
After the new TTD Board chairman, BR Naidu, took incharge, he announced that only Hindus should work at the institutions run by the temple body. In May, it transferred non-Hindus working at various institutions to other departments of the Andhra Pradesh government or offered a voluntary retirement scheme.
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