( 1 ) AS the Writ Appeal and Writ Petition are inter-connected, they were heard together and disposed of by this common judgment.

( 2 ) WRIT Appeal No. 456 of 1987 arises out of a judgment of the learned single judge dismissing W. P No. 531 of 1980.

( 3 ) ONE Pavani Sridhara Rao filed W. P. No. 531 of 1980 aggrieved by the memo dated 30-12-78 of the 1st respondent, confirming the orders of the 2nd respondent dated 30-5-78. The facts leading to the said petition are that a saintly person by name Tummala Venugopala Swamy came to the village of the petitioner and expressed his desire to engage himself in peaceful meditation. Petitioner gave him a site and constructed an Ashram in the land belonging to the petitioner in S. No. 201 of Mogilicherla village with the donation of one b. China Meera Setty. On 6-5-1976 Venugopala Swamy passed away. A samadhi was constructed in the place of Ashram which became a centre for pilgrimage, which is known as Sri Dattatreya Swamy Mandiram. A total area of three acres of land has been dedicated for the said purpose by the petitioner.

( 4 ) THE respondent by an order dated 30-5-78, appointed an Executive Officer for mis Sri Dattatreya