A devotee was made to wait for 14 years for Vastralankar Puja

Consumer Court orders Tirupati Devasthanam to pay Rs 50 lakh compensation to the devotee

Tirupati (AP) – A Consumer Court ordered the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthan to pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation to a devotee for making him wait for 14 years for a special puja. The Court also ordered the devotee to be given a new Vastralankar puja date in a year. This is the first time that a complaint has been filed in the Consumer Court against Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. The name of the complainant is K R Hari Bhaskar.

Tirupati told to pay devotee Rs 50 lakh for 14-year wait https://t.co/FAzv139myw

— TOI Vijaywada (@TOIVijaywada) September 4, 2022

1. Bhaskar had registered for Vastralankar Puja in the year 2006 by paying an amount of Rs 12,250. The Court has now ordered this amount to be returned with interest.  The Tirumala Tirupati Temple was closed for darshan for 80 days during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

2. As a result, other services were also stopped in the temple along with the Vastralankar service. At that time, the Devasthan had asked Bhaskar, whether he wanted a new date or his money back. At that time, Bhaskar had demanded a new date. When Devasthan informed Bhaskar it was not possible, he filed a complaint in the Consumer Court against the Devasthan committee.

Editorial viewpoint

This is expected to happen after the Government takes over the temples.