Within a couple of months of returning to the post of chairman of Maharaja Alak Narayan Society for Arts and Science (MANSAS) trust and Simhachalam temple trust following a favourable order from the state high court, senior Telugu Desam Party leader and former Union minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju received a rude shock.
This time, the shock was from Ashok’s another niece – Urmila Gajapathi Raju, daughter of his brother late Ananda Gajapathi Raju born to his second wife.
On Monday, Urmila knocked the doors of the state high court challenging the re-appointment of Ashok as the chairman of the Mansas Trust and Simhachalam temple trust board.
Urmila filed a petition in the high court seeking a review on the judgement given by the single judge bench re-appointing Ashok to the trusts of the Vizianagaram royal family.
She argued that as the legal heir of Ananda Gajapathi Raju, she has to be appointed in the posts.
In June, the single judge bench cancelled the Jagan government orders issued last year, removing Ashok as the head of the Mansas Trust and Simhachalam temple trust board and appointing Sanchaita Gajapathi Raju, daughter of Ananda Gajapathi Raju’s first wife Uma.
The single judge ruled that as per the trust rules, only male members should be appointed as the trust chairmen. So, the appointment of Ashok as the chairman after the death of his elder brother was valid and Sanchaita had no legal right to claim the post, the judge said.
Urmila is now arguing that the post goes to the descendants of only elder brother and as such, she is eligible for the appointment in the posts.
The high court admitted the petition and posted the case to Tuesday for hearing.