Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Plea on Wages of Priests in State-Controlled Temples
Bench says Article 32 petition not maintainable, advises petitioner to seek other remedies
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking the constitution of 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.
A two-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said it could not entertain the petition under Article 32 of the Constitution and that aggrieved persons could directly approach the court. The apex court asked petitioner-advocate Ashwini Upadhyay not to get into the affairs of priests, observing that he may not be aware of the earnings of priests and sevadars in temples.
Upadhyay submitted that judgments of the Allahabad High Court and other High Courts had called for a review of wages paid to priests in state-controlled temples to enable them to live a dignified life.
The Supreme Court refused to examine the plea and allowed Upadhyay to withdraw it with liberty to avail remedies available under law.
