NEW DELHI, May 18: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the constitution of a judicial commission or expert committee to examine the wages, service conditions and welfare benefits of priests, sevadars and temple staff working in state-controlled temples across the country.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta is likely to take up the petition filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay.
The plea, filed through advocate Ashwani Dubey, seeks directions to the Centre and state governments to establish a judicial commission or expert panel to review the remuneration structure and other employment benefits provided to temple priests and workers employed in temples administered by state authorities.
According to the petition, once the government assumes administrative, financial and managerial control over temples, an employer-employee relationship comes into existence between the State and the temple staff. The PIL argues that failure to provide dignified wages violates the right to livelihood guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The petition also seeks a declaration that priests and temple staff should be recognised as “employees” under Section 2(k) of the Code on Wages, 2019, thereby making them eligible for statutory wage protections and related benefits.
Explaining the background of the plea, Upadhyay stated that the issue came to his notice during a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in April this year. He claimed that despite the temple being managed under state control, many priests and workers were not receiving even minimum wages required for a dignified livelihood.
The petition further highlighted protests recently held in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where priests and temple workers allegedly demanded implementation of minimum wages and better service conditions.
Describing the situation as “systemic exploitation,” the PIL contended that state governments, while functioning as administrators through endowment departments, were failing to comply with labour welfare principles and constitutional directives under Article 43 relating to living wages and decent working conditions.
The plea stated that rising inflation and increasing living costs have further worsened the economic condition of temple staff, making judicial intervention necessary to prevent further marginalisation of workers dependent on temple administration for survival.
The petition also referred to a February 2025 circular issued at the Dandayuthapani Swami Temple that had reportedly barred priests from accepting “dakshina” in aarti plates. Although the order was later withdrawn following public criticism, the petitioner argued that the incident exposed the financial vulnerability of priests who often rely heavily on voluntary offerings due to lack of formal salaries.
The PIL additionally claimed that while several state governments exercise control over Hindu temples, similar administrative control is not imposed on mosques or churches.
As an alternative relief, the petition urged the Supreme Court to direct the Centre and state governments to frame welfare measures for priests, sevadars and temple workers in line with earlier observations made by the Allahabad High Court regarding their service conditions and livelihood rights.
The matter is expected to draw attention to the broader debate surrounding temple administration, labour rights and welfare protections for religious institution workers in India.