The Madras High Court has reiterated that a temple is treated as an “industry” under the Labour Compensation Act. The court directed the Labour Welfare Court to complete the hearing and pass orders within six weeks on a compensation claim filed by the widow of a temple security guard who was killed while on duty.
The case relates to Babu, a security guard deployed through Meena Security Service at the Theerthapaleeswarar Temple in Triplicane, Chennai. On June 17, 2021, he was attacked by thieves who allegedly tried to steal from the temple hundi, and he later died.
Following the incident, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department provided Rs 5 lakh as compassionate assistance. Babu’s wife, Sridevi, later approached the Labour Welfare Court seeking statutory compensation, through advocates V.S. Suresh and G. Devi.
The temple administration and the HR&CE department opposed the claim, stating that Babu was not directly appointed by them and therefore compensation could not be sought from them. The Labour Welfare Court rejected this objection and admitted the petition, holding that a temple is an industry under the Act.
Challenging that order, the temple’s executive officer moved the High Court. Justice K. Surender dismissed the petition, noting that the High Court had already held that temples fall within the Act’s scope, and found no reason to interfere with the labour court’s decision. The judge also instructed the Labour Welfare Court to conclude the widow’s claim within six weeks.
