The Madras High Court has ruled that temple workers should be paid minimum wages. The Petitioner, Tenkasi District Ambasamudram Srirajagopala Swami Kulasekara Alwar Temple Archakar Periya Nambi Narasimha Gopalan, filed a petition stating that temple priests, Maniam, Peshkar, Odhuar, Thavil, Nathaswara Vidwan and other employees should be paid equally under the Minimum Wage Act. The Additional Advocate General argued that each temple has separate administration, income, expenditure and staff, and cannot all be brought under one umbrella. However, the judge emphasized that temples are an integral part of Tamil Nadu’s culture and should be preserved and maintained by their staff. All temple workers employed by the petitioner should be paid minimum wages in 8 weeks and given cash benefits. The Ordinance against equal pay for equal work should also be repealed.
Madurai: The Madras High Court has ordered that minimum wages should be fixed for temple workers.
Tenkasi District Ambasamudram Srirajagopala Swami Kulasekara Alwar Temple Archakar Periya Nambi Narasimha Gopalan filed in the Madurai Branch of the High Court: Pay temple priests, Maniam, Peshkar, Odhuar, Thavil and Nathaswara Vidwan and other employees under the Minimum Wage Act on equal work, equal pay basis. , should also order the repeal of the Ordinance against providing equal pay for equal work. This was stated in the petition.
The petition was heard by Justice GR Swaminathan. Senior advocate K. Gokul argued on behalf of the petitioner. Additional Advocate General Veerakathiravan argued that each temple has separate administration, income, expenditure and staff. The employees working there are paid only from the income of the respective temple.
Primary temples, subordinate temples, classified temples and unclassified temples cannot all be brought under one umbrella. In some temples which are facing financial problems, employee welfare fund is created and salaries are paid. The doctrine of equal pay for equal work in temples is illogical. He said the petition should be dismissed.
Subsequently, the judge issued the order: The petitioner has been receiving a monthly salary of Rs.750. Currently his salary is Rs.2984. It is impossible to support a family with this salary and the things given to the temple workers. Temples are an integral part of our culture. There are many temples in Tamil Nadu. Many of these temples have ancient architectural and cultural value and should be preserved and maintained. This work can be done only by the temple staff.
An Administrative Officer has been appointed on behalf of the Charity Department for the temple where the petitioner works. Thus the entire responsibility of the temple rests with the state government. Thus the demand of the temple workers cannot be left alone. According to the constitution, the employees of the state government, whether male or female, should be provided with equal protection and livelihood.
All employees must be paid according to the Minimum Wages Act. No one can escape from it. The Ordinance does not apply to temple employees employed by the petitioner. All the temple workers employed by the petitioner should be paid wages as per Minimum Wages Act in 8 weeks and be given cash benefits. This is what the judge said in the order.