TG temples in disarray as EOs assigned multiple shrines

Hyderabad: Atleast temples should follow the core principles of administration religiously. Otherwise, like in many of the shrines in Telangana, they could be left floundering with a top-heavy administration, but inefficient day-to-day management.

Serious concerns have been raised over the functioning of many temples, especially the smaller ones categorised under grade two and grade three, due to the lack of seriousness on the part of some of the executive officers (EOs) appointed to oversee them as these officials are allegedly staying put at the head office, ostensibly “on deputation” or with opaque work orders, while ignoring their primary role of overseeing the day-to-day temple activities.

According to sources, on an average, every EO is assigned the responsibilities of six to 10 temples, making it difficult for them to oversee the day-to-day activities of the shrines under their charge. Giving an example, sources said that a grade-I temple EO Snehalatha, presently overseeing Sri Maisamma Devatha, Shivalaya, Ramalaya Devasthanam, Maisigandi in Rangareddy District, has been given responsibilities of eight additional temples in the district. Similarly, another grade-I EO P Prem Kumar Rao, presently overseeing Prasannanjaneya Swamy Temple, LB Nagar, has been officiating as EO of shrines in Saroornagar and Hayatnagar as well as six additional temples. Another EO (grade-III temple) L Murali Krishna, presently overseeing Sri Bandana Prasannanjaneya Swamy and Shirdi Saibaba Temple at Saroornagar, has been given the responsibilities of almost 10 temples. Sources pointed out that some of such executive officers with multiple shrines under their charge were staying put at the head office in the name of “deputation” or undefined “work order”, instead of going to the parent temple allotted to them. Sources said that P Satheesh Babu, a grade-I EO, who had been assigned duties in the Sri Prasannanjaneya Swamy Temple, RK Puram in Saroornagar of Rangareddy District, was working “on deputation” at the Head Office as CC to Additional Commissioner.

Some of the employees in the ranks of superintendent, inspectors, senior assistants, and junior assistants stick to the office of the Assistant Commissioner without handling any further responsibility.

According to sources, there are some officials who have no additional responsibilities. Assistant Commissioner and EO of Sri Jhamsingh Balaji Venkateshwara Swamy Temple B Krishna has no additional responsibilities. Similarly, Chikkadpally Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple AC and EO K Ramanjaneyulu has no additional responsibilities.

Some of the devotees of these shrines point out that if there is shortage of staff, the government should take up recruitment so that all temples can be managed well with dedicated staff. “If there is a case related to a land dispute and if the temple EO cannot apprise the same to an advocate in time, the temple land will be in jeopardy. There will be scope for mismanagement of finances too,” said a temple chairman. He further said that those officers whose primary responsibility is administration of a temple should be posted in that temple rather than in office establishments. This would ensure accountability among the temple staff. So, so-called “deputations” should be cancelled and the officials concerned sent to the temples for effective management, the chairman said.