CJI offers prayers at Tirumala temple

Tirupati: Chief Justice of India Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde along with High Court Chief Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheswari offered prayers to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala on Saturday evening.

Before offering prayers to Lord, Bobde and Maheswari participated in Sahasra Deepalankara Seva conducted near the temple. The judges lent their shoulders to the palanquin carrying the processional deities of Sri Malayappa and His two consorts after the 45-minute long seva was over at the shrine.

Following the temple tradition, the CJI also paid obeisance to Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy and also Pushkarini, the temple tank before offering prayers to Lord Venkateswara. TTD chairman Y V Subba Reddy and Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal earlier welcomed CJI Bobde and AP High Court Chief Justice at Sri Padmavathi Rest House in Tirumala and accompanied them to the temple.

According to TTD sources, CJI and AP Chief Justice will visit the shrine again on Sunday morning during VIP break to have darshan of Lord Venkateswara. Earlier, CJI Bobde was accorded a warm welcome by High Court Chief Justice JK Maheswari, District Judge Ravindra Babu, District Collector Dr Bharat Narayan Gupta, senior members of local Bar Association and other officials on his arrival at Renigunta airport.

It may be noted here that it is the maiden visit of Bobde to Tirumala after he became Chief Justice of India.Official sources said that the CJI after darshan at Tirumala temple will leave from Renigunta airport at 10.15 am to New Delhi on Sunday.