Karnataka High Court: A Division Bench of Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, CJ and P. Krishna Bhat, J. asked the State Government to consider a manner in which help can be extended to ‘Archaks’ who are not being paid regular salary as there is no income to temples in the present lockdown situation due to COVID-19.
Additional Advocate General placed the memo dated 26th may, 2020 enclosing therewith the State Government’s Order dated 20th May, 2020. Further he added that temple in ‘C’ category are entitled to yearly grant of Rs 48,000 and the first installment had been ordered for release by the 20th May, 2020 Order.
Bench stated that, State Government will have to consider in what manner help can be extended to Archaks who cannot be paid regular salary as there is no income to the temples of ‘C’ category in the present situation.
For which petitioners counsel submitted that in some areas, ration in the form if Archak Kits have been distributed. Additional Advocate General to this stated that 14,000 Archak Kits had been distributed.
Bench asked the State Government to make a statement on whether Archak Kits can be supplied to all Archaks working in category ‘C’ temples.
Petition is listed on 3rd June, 2020. [Shreehari Kutsa v. State of Karnataka, WP No. 6932 of 2020, decided on 27-05-2020]
