Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday delivered sharp remarks while hearing petitions related to allegations of animal fat contamination in the ghee used to make laddoos at Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati temple. The court emphasized that politics and religion must remain separate, cautioning against unnecessary public statements on religious matters.
SC Questions Lack of Evidence in Ghee Contamination Claims
The bench, comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan, expressed concern over the absence of definitive proof regarding contamination in the ghee, or that the affected ghee was used to prepare the temple’s iconic laddoos. The court noted an ongoing inquiry and highlighted the possibility of a “false positive” in the testing report.
Criticism of Chandrababu Naidu’s Public Statements
The court took issue with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s public statements regarding the ghee contamination, particularly when his administration had already ordered an inquiry following a Gujarat lab’s report. “When you hold a Constitutional post… we expect Gods to be kept away from politics,” the bench remarked. Naidu’s comments, made in September, came despite the lab report being issued in July, and the court expressed disappointment over the delay in his response.
Chief Minister’s Comments Spark Political Row
Naidu’s remarks were echoed by his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and political allies, leading to a significant political controversy in Andhra Pradesh. A purification ceremony was even conducted at the Tirupati temple in response to the allegations. Meanwhile, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party slammed the TDP for “malicious” claims, accusing them of politicizing the temple issue for electoral gain.
Petitions Filed by BJP and YSRCP Leaders
The Supreme Court is hearing two petitions filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and YSRCP MP YV Subba Reddy. Swamy’s petition calls for a detailed forensic report from the Andhra Pradesh government, while Reddy’s plea seeks an independent special investigation team to probe the allegations.
Court Emphasizes Restraint Until Investigation Concludes
The court, while questioning the Chief Minister’s decision to go public before the inquiry was concluded, remarked, “There should be restraint… You ordered an investigation; what was the need to go to the press immediately?” Justice Gavai noted that it was still unclear whether the ghee in question was used in making the laddoos, adding that a second opinion should have been sought before making public statements.
Tirupati Temple’s Laddoo Production
Tirupati temple produces around three lakh laddoos daily, using approximately 1,500 kg of ghee, along with cashew nuts, raisins, cardamoms, gram flour, and sugar. Reports suggest that the ghee in question was supplied from Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul district.
