Supreme Court Seeks Wage Review for Temple Staff in State-Controlled Temples

The Supreme Court has received a public interest litigation (PIL) calling for the establishment of a judicial commission or expert committee to review the wages and benefits of priests, sevadars, and other staff in state-controlled temples across India. Filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, the petition seeks a declaration that temple employees are 'employees' under the Code on Wages, 2019, and that the state's control over temple administration creates an employer-employee relationship, triggering wage obligations under law.

The petitioner argues that denial of minimum wages to temple staff violates the right to livelihood under Article 21 of the Constitution, noting that many receive no formal salary and depend on 'Dakshina', or voluntary offerings from devotees. The PIL references a February 7, 2025, circular at the Dhandayuthapani Swami Temple in Madurai, which barred priests from accepting donations in aarti plates—a move later withdrawn after public backlash—highlighting the precariousness of their livelihood.

Upadhyay cited protests by temple staff in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over unpaid wages, stating that even unskilled laborers' minimum wage benchmarks are not met. The petition alleges systemic exploitation, asserting that state governments, through their endowments departments, act as de facto employers while circumventing the Minimum Wages Act and Article 43 of the Directive Principles of State Policy.

The PIL also points to disparities in state oversight, noting that while lakhs of Hindu temples are administered by the state, no such control is exercised over mosques or churches. It urges the Centre and state governments to ensure welfare measures for temple staff in line with earlier Allahabad High Court judgments.

The Supreme Court has not yet issued notice on the petition; the next procedural step will depend on the Court's decision on whether to admit the PIL for hearing.