A public interest litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court urging the Centre and state governments to set up a commission to review the pay and working conditions of priests and temple staff in state-controlled temples nationwide. The plea argues that these workers should be considered employees entitled to minimum wages and labor protections under the Code on Wages, 2019.
The petition highlights that despite state control over temple operations and finances, priests and staff often receive low, irregular payments without essential benefits like pensions or healthcare. It emphasizes that denying fair wages and social security to these workers violates their fundamental rights under the Constitution.
Priests in many temples reportedly struggle to make ends meet on meager earnings, while the temples themselves generate substantial revenue. The plea underscores the significant economic contribution of temples to religious tourism and calls for ensuring dignified wages for the workers who sustain these religious sites.
Recent protests in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana by temple workers demanding better conditions and wages are also referenced in the plea. Additionally, the document cites instances of economic hardship faced by temple staff in various states, emphasizing the need for equitable treatment and fair compensation.
The petition further argues that the exclusion of temple workers from minimum wage protections constitutes arbitrary discrimination, contrary to constitutional principles. It calls for a uniform wage framework and welfare mechanism to be established for priests and temple staff in state-controlled temples, in line with constitutional directives on social and economic justice.
