SC to hear pleas for reviewing wages of priests, temple staff
The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea seeking the formation of a judicial commission or expert committee to review wages and benefits for priests and temple staff in state-controlled temples. The petitioner argues that state control over temples creates an employer-employee relationship, and failure to provide minimum wages violates the right to livelihood under Article 21. The plea also highlights incidents like a Tamil Nadu circular banning 'dakshina' that exposed the precarious livelihoods of temple staff.
- ▪The Supreme Court will hear a PIL filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay seeking a judicial commission to review temple staff wages.
- ▪The plea requests that priests and temple staff be recognized as 'employees' under the Code on Wages, 2019.
- ▪Petitioners claim that priests in state-controlled temples often receive no formal salary and rely on 'dakshina' for survival.
- ▪A 2025 circular at Madurai's Dandayuthapani Swami Temple banned priests from accepting 'dakshina,' sparking public outcry.
- ▪The petitioner cites protests in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over non-payment of minimum wages to temple staff.
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SC to hear pleas for reviewing wages of priests, temple staffSC to hear pleas for reviewing wages of priests, temple staffPublished on: May 17, 2026 11:54 AM ISTPTIShare viaCopy link New Delhi, The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea to constitute a judicial commission or an expert committee to review the wages and other benefits given to priests, 'sevadars' and temple staff in state-controlled temples.SC to hear pleas for reviewing wages of priests, temple staffA bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta is likely to hear the PIL filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay.The plea, filed through advocate Ashwani Dubey, seeks directions to the Centre and states to constitute a judicial commission or an expert committee to review the remuneration and other benefits given to…
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