Food Courts and Casinos on Tirumala

Hydrabad – The five member fact finding committee appointed by the Pejavar Mutt Seer disapproved opening of the seven hills to the Tourism Department as it would destroy the ?sanctity, serenity and spirituality of the seven hills and will severely hurt the feeling of hindus throughout the country and the world.?
Apart from erection and operation of a ropeway from Tirupati to Tirumala the Tourism Department is planning to establish multiplexes, food courts and other entertainment and recreational spots on Tirumala. To facilirate these activities it is proposed to restrict the area of TTD to two hills covering an area 27.5sq kms.
On this issue the committee relying on the judgment of a Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 1997 (Tallapakam Koppu Vs State of Andhra Pradesh) contened that the ownership of all seven hills vests with Lord Venkateswara right from the foot-hills on all sides.
The Bench observed in that judgement as follows ?Although there is no documentation available as the origin is lost in antiquity no one has questioned the ownership (of the seven hills) by lord Venkateswara. This being true and a real concept the Board of trustees, the committee or the Executive Officer are only administrators of the property of Lord Venkateswara. They can have no right of ownership in themselves and they cannot thus decide anything against the interest of the right of the owner (Lord Venkateswara). Once the ownership is resolved and the right to administer, is deemed to vest as provided under article 26 of the Constitution of India in the on the plurality of the devotees and regulated by the provisions of the Acts and Rules framed there under no administrator whether appointed under the Act or otherwise can take liberty to destroy the sanctity and holiness of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and domain as we have already held extends to all the seven hills called tirumala.
?It is not in dispute that pilgrims in thousands and millions in number something visit the temple and there is no day which is not full of activities of the pilgrims of various ritual poojas and cites of the cult preserved since antiquity and no part of the seven hill, except some secular activities which are essential for the service of lord venkateshwara is free from religious activities, in and around the temple right from the foothills on all sides.