Bruce's Code

Bruce's Code is a set of rules for the management and administration of temples of Tirumala and Tirupati including the servants, enacted by East India Company in 1821 AD.

These were the well-defined rules formulated as a code having 42 provisions to ease the administration of temples of Tirumala and Tirupati on the basis of customs and previous usages without interfering in the day-to-day affairs.

With the arrival of British, the management of temples were transferred from Nawabs of Arcot to East India Company in 1801 AD.

[5] Between 1805-16, due to many instances and complaints about misappropriation and mismanagement of Tirumala and Tirupati temple funds were brought to the notice of board, the British East India Company passed the Regulation VII of 1817 to check the abuses.

This interference continued till the "Court of Directors" in England strongly resented the participation of the Company's officers and men in the idolatry conducted in Hindu temples by reason of its management of these religious institutions and ordered its relinquishment of their administration of religious endowments.