AP High Court Remands Plea Seeking Enforcement Of Circular Barring Foreign-Returned Priests From Performing Temple Duties
Ritika Verma
6 Jun 2026 8:00 PM IST
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has set aside an order directing authorities to implement a 2010 Endowments Department circular barring archakas (priests) who had travelled abroad from performing Archakatwam in the Garbhalayam (sanctum sanctorum) of Sringeri Sharada Peetham.
The court held that material facts and pending proceedings challenging the validity of the circular itself were not brought to the notice of the Single Judge and thus remanded the matter.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Ninala Jayasurya observed that the earlier order could not be sustained as relevant facts with a direct bearing on the controversy had been withheld from the Court.
The Court observed:
“In the given factual matrix, it is apparent that complete facts, which have a material bearing on the controversy at hand, were not brought to notice of learned Single Judge at the time of decision. Order dated 30.03.2026, thus, is not sustainable. Keeping in view facts and circumstances as above, the matter is remanded to learned Single Judge to consider entire controversy at hand in a wholesome manner after taking into account factual aspects as detailed above.
Appellant is at liberty to file appropriate applications before learned Single Bench for bringing on record all relevant facts. It is clarified that there is no expression of opinion on merits of matter, which is, within realm of consideration by learned Single Bench. ”
The dispute centred on Circular Memo No. 21 dated 10.11.2010 issued by the Endowments Department, which provides that archakas who have gone abroad are not eligible to perform Archakatwam in the sanctum sanctorum of temples. In the writ petition, the petitioner had sought implementation of the circular and a Pramanika dated 20.12.2024 issued by the Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham, alleging that the authorities were not adhering to these guidelines.
The appellant, who was not impleaded in the writ petition, sought leave to appeal contending that the directions adversely affected him. He submitted that he had already filed a separate writ petition challenging the validity of the 2010 circular as illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional, and that the said challenge was pending adjudication when the Single Judge directed its implementation.
The appellant further argued that he had travelled to the United States only after obtaining permission from the Commissioner of Endowments and had remained abroad between 2001 and 2006 on sanctioned leave without pay. Since his foreign travel pre-dated the issuance of the circular by several years, he contended that the circular could not be applied to his case. He also pointed out that, pursuant to an earlier remand by the High Court, the Deputy Commissioner had passed an order in November 2025 recording these facts.
The writ petitioner defended the circular and maintained that its implementation had rightly been directed. However, it was not disputed that the challenge to the circular's validity in the appellant's earlier writ petition was already pending before the High Court.
Taking note of these circumstances, the Division Bench held that the Single Judge had not been apprised of material facts, including the appellant's pending challenge to the circular and the administrative findings regarding his foreign travel. The Court therefore remanded the matter for fresh consideration, directing that the entire controversy be examined comprehensively after all relevant facts are brought on record.
Clarifying that it had expressed no opinion on the merits of the dispute or the validity of the circular, the Court disposed of the writ appeal and set aside the earlier order.
Case Title: Godavarthi Srinivasacharyulu v. D.S.S.S. Subrahmanyam Somayaji & Ors.
Case No.: W.A. No. 533 of 2026.
Counsel for the Appellant: D. V. Sasidhar
Counsel for the Respondent: K. R. Srinivas, Government Pleader for Endowments
