High drama was enacted for several hours at the Sri Kanaka Durga temple here on Tuesday over the breaking of locks of the executive officer's room, as the executive officer and the in-charge EO fought for upholding their respective positions.
Confusion prevailed among the temple staff as the two officers – EO M. Raghunath, who was under suspension for a while, and in-charge EO Vishnuprasad, who was posted there to discharge the duties of the EO -- claiming to have the right over the EO seat.
On Monday, Raghunath was reportedly locked up in his chamber for some time, before he left for Hyderabad to meet higher officials to press for the continuation of his service in the temple, as he has already obtained a services tribunal order revoking his suspension.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the in-charge EO decided to break the locks of the EO’s chamber in the presence of other officials and public representatives.
Former MLA Radhakri-shna said endowments minister C. Ramachand-raiah has failed to solve the EO crisis in the Sree Kanaka Durga temple.
By evening, the temple officials broke open the locks of the EO’s room in the presence of MRO Srinivasa Rao, assistant commissioner of endowments M. Saradhakumari and the police.
Meanwhile, the EO Raghunath, who visited the temple in the evening, said he would approach the court to get the charge from the in-charge EO.
Raghunath said there was a delay in issuing fresh orders of his reinstatement as EO, as the minister for endowments was “busy” with other matters.
Raghunath had been suspended on a charge of protocol violation during the visit of minister Thota Narasimham during the Dasara celebrations.