The proposal mooted by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams chairman Y V Subba Reddy to do away with break darshan of Lord Venkateshwara on Tirumala in three different layers of L-1, L-2 and L-3 might be welcomed by many, but one wonders whether it is practically possible.
The chairman only announced that the three-layer system would be scrapped and a new system of darshans for VIPs would be introduced. But he did not say that the VIP darshan system would be scrapped completely.
The Andhra Pradesh high court, which heard the petition on Monday, raised the same question.
First of all, there is no government order (GO) on scrapping the L-1, L-2 and L-3 darshans. The chairman’s statement cannot be taken as the final decision and it has to be taken by the trust board which is yet to be constituted.
Secondly, the court sought to know what difference it would be between three-layer break darshan and proposed VIP darshans.
“It is just an eye wash. The TTD is only trying to re-introduce the system through other means in the name of Protocol Darshan,” the petitioner told the court.
The court, which agreed with his contention, ordered that the TTD standing counsel explain its stand on the break darshan decision by next hearing on Thursday.
However, one wonders whether the TTD can really do away with the VIP break darshans. Is it possible to deny special darshans to MLAs, MPs, ministers and other VIPs? Can they wait in queues for a long time like other devotees? Not possible.
For that matter, can the high court judges and other members of judiciary stand in queues to have darshan without any VIP treatment? Don’t they want to have the darshan of the Lord quickly?
If the judges forego this VIP darshan facility, then the court can scrap the entire VIP darshan and people will appreciate the same.