Mahant of Hathiramji Mutt suspended over irregularities

Tirumala: Arjun Doss, the Mahant of Swamy Hathiramji Mutt, was suspended on Wednesday over administrative irregularities.

Sri Swamy Hathiramji Mutt is a historical mutt in South India which was under the Mahantship of Sri Prayagdossji, who passed away on 5 October 1947. There were disputes about the succession of the Mutt after his demise and subsequently they were resolved. The Commissioner of Endowments vide proceedings dated 27 December 1983, appointed the Assistant Commissioner of Endowments as the custodian of the Mutt to administer and maintain its affairs till Mathadhipathi succeeded to the office according to the provisions of Act 17 of 1966.

A writ petition on succession has been pending in the High Court for more than 15 years.

On Tuesday the Endowment Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh, who is also the Member Secretary of Dharmika Parishad that controls the Mutt, passed orders suspending Mahanth Arjun Doss. The Mahant has been directed to hand over the charges to the Executive Officer of the Sri Kalahasthi Devasthanam.

The Commissioner said in his order that charges have also been framed against Mahanth Arjun Doss following complaints. Meanwhile, Chandrasekhar Reddy, EO of Sri Kalahasthi Devasthanam, took charge as ‘Fit Person’ of the Mutt on Wednesday.

Swamy Hathiramji Mutt which administered the famed Tirumala temple for over nine decades till 1933 owns several hundred crores of rupees worth landed properties, buildings in Chittoor district and also in other parts of the country.