Share of pujari in temple offerings
SK Sharma
(Querist) 27 July 2024
This query is : Resolved
My father is a shebait/ mohatamim and pujari of a temple situated in Himachal Pradesh. He has also performed puja and managed temple affairs since 1983 to 1997 exclusively.
In 1997, government takeover the management of temple and fixed 20% share in the offerings of the temple to my father as remuneration and also assigned exclusive puja rights in the temple for whole year.
In 2013, the temple administration i.e. SDM distributed puja rights among other brothers who had never performed puja at any stage till 2013.
My father challenged the order dated 02.11.2013 in HP High Court.
On 01.01.2024, SDM made submission before the hon'ble court to reconsider the issue at his own level.
The court accepted his submission and directed him to decide the issue of duty arrangement, distribution of share in offerings and induction of Respondent No. 5 to 7 (brothers of my father).
The SDM denied to decide the issue and continued the adverse order dated 02.11.2013.
My father has deprived of 12 months puja and 20% share in the offerings as remuneration.
Hence, my query is ::
whether puja right of my father and 20% share in the offerings of the temple as remuneration can be curtailed to 1/4th and distributed among his brothers.
AND is there any provision in law that pujari right falls under inheritance.
please advise me.
T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate
(Expert) 27 July 2024
You have repeated the same question in more than one thread of this website, to know more answers you may visit the original thread
