The Supreme Court of Andhra Pradesh struck down GO women nos. 72 and 74 on Monday, appointing Sanchaita Gajapathi Raju as hereditary trustee / chairman of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Vari Devasthanam in Simhachalam and the MANSAS (Maharaja Alak Narayan Society of Arts) & Science) Trust last year and ordered that Fr. Ashok Gajapathi Raju be reinstated as chairman of both trusts.
Mr. Ashok said in his petitions that the established practice in Simhachalam Devasthanam was for the “eldest male direct descendant” of the Pusapati Gajapathi family of the princely state of Vizianagaram to be the hereditary trustee and this was in vogue for more than three centuries and lasted even on when the temple came under the scope of the Madras Endowment Act of 1951 and then Acts 17 of 1966 and 30 of 1987 of Andhra Pradesh.
He alleged that Ms. Sanchaita had no legal right to be called as a “Founding Family Member” under Section 17 of Law 30, 1987.
Mr Ashok said in his petition that the government’s jurisdiction over the MANSAS Trust is very limited as it is a public not-for-profit trust and its functioning is governed by the settlor’s deed. He also cited certain provisions of the Hindu Succession Act and various judgments to give credibility to his arguments.