SC To Hear PILs On Tirupati Temple Laddu Allegations On Sept 30

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on September 30 will hear a batch of public interest litigations (PILs) pertaining to the alleged presence of impurities including animal fats in the laddus given as “prasadam” at the Sri Venkateswara Temple.

The apex court in the cause list published on its website has said that a bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan will take up the PILs on September 30.

A plea filed by Satyam Singh has sought the constitution of a judicial committee to probe into allegations. He seeks the probe to be conducted by a former SC judge or the CBI.

“A grave violation of religious customs occurred as investigations revealed disturbing facts that non-vegetarian products, specifically bird meat (kolis), the presence of animal fat, ‘lard’ (pig fat), fish oil and other impurities were used in the preparation of ‘prasadam’,” the plea said.

The petition added that the violations at the Tirupati Balaji Temple represent infringement of Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of religion.

“This act not only violates the fundamental tenets of Hindu religious customs but also deeply wounds the sentiments of countless devotees who regard the ‘prasadam’ as a sacred blessing. The gravity of this situation cannot be overlooked, as it strikes at the core of our religious practices and beliefs,” it added.

The petition emphasized the profound spiritual significance of the Tirumala Tirupati Temple for Hindus worldwide. Countless devotees from around the globe make annual pilgrimages to the sacred site, seeking divine blessings and partaking in the holy ‘prasadam,’ believed to be imbued with the blessings of Lord Venkateswara.

Another petition advocates for the formation of a committee under the direct oversight of the Supreme Court, or the appointment of a retired Supreme Court judge with other experts, to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations of substandard ingredients and animal fat in the ghee distributed by the Tirupati Tirumala Temple.

Earlier, a letter petition was addressed to the Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud seeking urgent intervention from the Supreme Court in light of recent revelations about the alleged use of animal fat in the preparation of ‘prasadam’ offered to the deity at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple during the YSCRP rule.