Dollar Seshadri gets a breather

New Delhi,Nov 24: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the interim orders of Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissing  extension of the services of P Seshadri alias `Dollar Seshadri’ as officer on special duty (OSD) up to June 2011 in Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam.Following a writ petition filed by Seshadri challenging the interim orders of the High Court dismissing his extension orders as OSD,the apex court directed the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams to continue his service.Seshadri has been in the eye of storm ever since the scandal about the loss of 300 gold dollars from the temple treasury was reported last year and the government-appointed probe committee exonerated him of the swindling charges.

 The government later gave him an extension.Challenging the extension, Congress leader M Gopal Reddy filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court. He appealed to the apex court that his absence may adversely affect the regular activities of the Tirumala temple and may also hurt the religious sentiments of the devout.He said the termination of his services as OSD would also deprive him of his livelihood.