Visakhapatnam: The Simhachalam Temple is back in the news due to a dispute over the main
priest position. The conflict has attracted widespread attention after one priest filed a
petition in the High Court. The court instructed the temple management to follow proper rules
for promotions and to address the petition filed by Srinivasa Prasadacharyulu.
Despite the court’s order, the temple management did not act, so the petitioner approached the
Endowment Department Commissioner, Ramachandra Mohan. The commissioner asked the in-charge
executive officer and deputy director N. Sujatha to submit a report on the issue.
Srinivasa Prasadacharyulu, who was serving as the in-charge main priest, filed the case
after being denied promotion to the main priest post. Traditionally, the assistant
main priest is promoted to the main priest position. However, Prasadacharyulu claimed
that while he was kept as in-charge, two assistant priests, Godavarthi Srinivasacharyulu
and I. V. Ramanacharyulu, were promoted on September 18, 2022.
Prasadacharyulu also alleged that, according to AP Dharmik Parishad rules, priests who
travel abroad should not be eligible for promotion, yet one of the promoted priests had
traveled to foreign countries several times.