Supreme Court Declines To Entertain Plea Seeking Review Of Wages, Of Priests In State-Controlled Temples

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a public interest petition seeking the constitution of a judicial commission or expert committee to review the wages and service benefits of priests, sevadars and other staff working in state-controlled temples across the country.

A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta dismissed the plea after expressing disinclination to interfere in the matter.

When petitioner, Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, appearing in person, urged the Court to consider the issue, the bench orally remarked that it was not inclined to intervene in the affairs concerning temple priests.

Upadhyay argued that the issue concerned the dignity and livelihood of temple workers and referred to an Allahabad High Court observation on ensuring minimum wages so that such employees could lead a dignified life. He contended that the matter had nationwide ramifications, particularly since, according to him, temples alone were subject to state control while mosques and churches were not.

However, the bench refused to entertain the petition.

When Upadhyay then sought permission to withdraw the plea with liberty to approach the appropriate authorities, the Court allowed the request and dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

Case : Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India | W.P.(C) No. 625/2026