The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking constitution of a judicial commission or expert committee to review wages and service conditions of priests, sevadars and temple staff in state-controlled temples across the country. [Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v Union of India & Ors.]
A Bench comprising of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta initially dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
However, it later permitted Upadhyay's request to withdraw the plea and pursue remedies before appropriate authorities.
During the hearing, the Court made its disinclination clear, remarking,
"Mandiron ke pujari ke chakkar mein matt padiye (Don’t interfere in the affairs of temple priests). Aapko pata hai pujari kitna paisa kamate hai? (Do you know how much temple priests earn) We are not entertaining this."
Upadhyay referred to observations of the Allahabad High Court on ensuring minimum wages for temple staff to enable a dignified life. He argued that while several temples are under State control, similar regulatory frameworks do not apply to mosques or churches.
"The Allahabad High Court says minimum wages so that they can lead a dignified life. This is a nationwide issue. Not a single mosque or church is under state control," he said.
However, the Bench declined to intervene.
"Allow me to withdraw it and approach the authorities," asked Upadhyay ultimately.
The petition sought directions to the Central government and States to constitute a commission to review remuneration and declare priests and temple staff as “employees” under the Code on Wages, 2019. It contended that once the State assumes administrative and financial control over temples, an employer–employee relationship arises, triggering obligations under labour welfare laws.
On the condition of temple workers, the plea stated,
“Priests and temple staff are not getting even the minimum wage prescribed by the State for unskilled and semi-skilled workers. This is a systemic exploitation.”
It further argued that temple personnel across several States receive meagre or irregular payments, often dependent on offerings or honorariums rather than structured wages.
The petition also raised constitutional concerns.
“The continued denial of fair wages, social security, and dignified service conditions to priests and temple staff, despite administrative, financial and economic control over thousands of temples, violates the fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. The absence of any effective welfare or regulatory mechanism has left the priest and temple staff socially economically vulnerable and deprived of dignified livelihood,” the petition said.
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