Jaipur: Priests and employees of Galtaji Peeth have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from next week, demanding their salaries overdue for the last three to four months.
They claimed that the district administration tried to pacify them ahead of the Chhath Puja by paying a month's salary but they are not going to relent until they receive the entire overdue amount and an assurance from the state govt that they will get their salaries on time in future.
Anil Mishra, a senior priest of the Galtaji Peeth, told TOI that since the district administration took over the control of the religious site following a Rajasthan high court order in July 2024, they have not received their salaries for the last four months – until Oct 2024. "I have three daughters and am facing a very difficult time running my family. The district administration paid salary to a few priests and employees of the Peeth on Tuesday. But I, and several like me, did not get salaries for the last four months. Until the govt puts things in line, we are going to continue with our agitations," Mishra said. In July, the high court invalidated the appointment of Mahant Avdheshacharya of Galta Peeth Tirtha and directed the state govt to assume control of it, reverting its status to that of 1943. Following the order, the devasthan department of the state govt appointed the Jaipur district collector as the administrator of the Galtaji Temple Trust. Subsequently, the collector formed a committee to oversee the temple's management. The committee took over control of the entire Peeth, starting with the main Galtaji temple.
A senior district official, who did not want to be quoted, claimed that the problem is that there is no official record available on the amount the priests and other employees used to receive as salaries before the high court order.