AP High Court Directs Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams To Consider Rare Disease, Autoimmune Disorder Patients For 'Special Darshan' Quota

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the competent authority of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to decide within four months a representation seeking expansion of 'Special Darshan' medical quota to devotees having debilitating illnesses like autoimmune disorders, rare diseases and severe blood related conditions.

At present devotees having such medical conditions are presently excluded from the existing framework despite facing serious medical limitations.

Justice Ninala Jayasurya passed the order in a plea invoking Section 2(18) of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions & Endowments Act which defines a “person having interest” in relation to a religious institution, and contended that as a devotee and patient rights advocate working since 2019, he possessed the locus to seek facilitative measures concerning access to darshan for devotees suffering from severe medical conditions.

"On instructions Mr.K.K.Raghuveer submits that the representation dated 03.12.2025, would be examined by the competent authority and necessary action will be taken within a period of six (06) months. However, considering the fact that the representation was made in the month of December-2025, this Court is inclined to grant four (04) months time for taking appropriate action on the representation dated 03.12.2025 and intimate the same to the petitioner to the address given in the cause title of the Writ Petition". 

At present, TTD provides Special Darshan facilities to devotees suffering from ailments such as kidney transplantation, dialysis, liver transplantation, cancer, brain surgery, open heart surgery and severe spine related disabilities.

However, according to the petitioner, patients suffering from other debilitating illnesses including autoimmune disorders, rare diseases and severe blood disorders continue to remain outside the existing framework despite facing chronic fatigue, reduced stamina, mobility issues and lifelong medical complications.

The petitioner stated that he had submitted a detailed representation dated 03.12.2025 seeking inclusion of critical autoimmune and connective tissue disorders, diseases notified under the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021, and severe haematological and genetic blood disorders under the medical darshan quota.

The petitioner further pointed to the lack of adequate specialist medical infrastructure at the district level for treatment and certification of autoimmune disorders, rare diseases and complex blood related conditions.

It was contended that many patients are forced to depend on metropolitan hospitals for diagnosis and certification, making access difficult and inconsistent. In this backdrop, the petitioner sought intervention from the State and Union health authorities for appointment or facilitation of specialists across Andhra Pradesh.

The representation further sought permission for one attendant to accompany such patients during darshan and requested enhancement of the medical darshan quota to ensure deserving patients are not denied access because of limited ticket availability.

Noting that the petitioner's representation had remained pending since December 2025, the High Court accordingly directed the authorities to consider and decide the representation within four months while disposing of the writ petition.

Case Title: S.K. Srikrishna Yesaswi v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors.

Case Number: Writ Petition No. 3481 of 2026

Counsel for Petitioner: Kota Krishna Deepthi

Counsel for Respondent: Jupudi V K Yagnadutt (Central Government Counsel), GP for Endowments, C Srinivasa Baba

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