Centre, UP asked to constitute board for wages applicable to temples

Allahabad, June 6 (UNI) In a significant ruling, Allahabad High Court has directed the central and Uttar Pradesh governments for the constitution of a board to provide minimum wages and other welfare schemes for sewaks/workers working in temples and other religious places including charitable establishments.

The court observed that the board be constituted on the lines of UP Muslim Waqf Act, 1960 with suitable amendments commensurate to the requirements of Hindu religion, representing all sects falling within the fold of Hinduism.

Justice S N Srivastava passed the order on a writ petition filed by Shri Satya Narain Tulsi Manas Mandir, Durga Kund, Varanasi against which proceedings under the Minimum Wages Act were initiated.

The court said the board, so constituted, will be a self governing autonomous body.

The board shall register all such religious and charitable establishments/endowments according to the norms represented by mutts, monasteries, temples, religious and charitable trusts or societies through their heads of all sects.

The central and state governments will frame welfare schemes for providing minimum wages to such workers as well as other welfare measures relating to such workers/employees, remarked the court.

The judges said such scheme, as stated above, will be prepared after inviting objections from all sections in the Hindu fold.

The court directed the scheme, so framed, may be placed in the court after three months.

September 4, 2006 is the next date of hearing in the case.

UNI XC VS MA RAI1911