AP Govt withdraws Endowments tribunal Chief appointment

In a surprising administrative development, the Andhra Pradesh government has withdrawn its own order appointing a Chairman to the Endowments Tribunal within hours of issuing it, triggering confusion and speculation in official circles.

The government had issued a Government Order (GO No. 447) appointing retired district judge N. Nagaraju as the Chairman of the Endowments Tribunal. The order, issued by Endowments Department Ex-officio Secretary Dr. Hari Jawaharlal, stated that Nagaraju would serve a tenure of three years or until attaining the age of 65 years, whichever was earlier.

However, in an unexpected turn of events, the GO was removed from the official website shortly after being uploaded, with no immediate clarification from the authorities. The abrupt withdrawal has raised questions over the circumstances leading to the reversal and whether procedural or administrative issues prompted the decision.

Sources within the administration indicated that the sudden rollback has led to uncertainty regarding the appointment process, with officials awaiting fresh instructions from the government. The lack of an official explanation has further fuelled speculation about possible reconsiderations or internal review of the selection.

The Endowments Tribunal plays a key role in adjudicating disputes related to temple administration and properties under the Endowments Department, making the appointment of its Chairman a matter of administrative significance. With the government yet to issue a revised order or clarification, attention is now focused on whether a fresh appointment will be made or if the earlier decision will be reinstated after review.