Reinstate Ashok Gajapathi Raju As Mansas Trust Chairman: HC

In a major shock to the YCP government in Andhra Pradesh, the High Court dismissed the GO appointing Sanchaita Gajapati as the chairperson of Simhachalam Devasthanam and Mansas Trust. The High Court ordered re-instatement of former Union minister and TDP senior leader Ashok Gajapathi Raju as the chairperson.

Scrapping the GO issued by the government in the past, the High Court finalised that appointment of Sanchaita Gajapathi was not valid. Sanchaita Gajapathi is the second daughter of Ananda Gajapathi Raju, the borther of Ashok Gajapathi Raju. Both Ananda and Ashok are the sons of PVG Raju, who headed the Mansas Trust, owned by the Vijayanagara Kings.

The court was dealing with a petition filed by Ashok Gajapathi Raju challenging his removal as the chairman. The judge made it clear that Ashok would continue as the chairman of the Devasthanam and Trust as per the old GO.

While the government argued that Sanchaita was given an opportunity in a rotational manner, Ashok Gajapathi Raju’s counsel made it clear elders only should be the trustees in their old age as both Mansas and Simhachalam Devasthanam Board are Trusts.

Ashok Gajapathi Raju has been chairman of the Trusts after the death of his elder brother Ananda Gajapathi Raju in 2016.

Following the HC verdict Ashok Gajapathi Raju was showered with congratulatory messages on the social media. Several people felt that justice was done to Ashok Gajapathi Raju as he was only person eligible to continue as the hereditary trustee of Mansas Trust and Simhachalam Devasthanam.

Technically, Mansas Trust has control over nearly 15,000 acres worth more than Rs 50,000 crore in both the Godavari district and north Coastal Andhra. There are many temples and their lands also under the control of the Trust.