New Delhi: The Centre on May 22 told the Delhi High Court that it has asked the states to take appropriate measures, including constitution of boards, to look after the management of various temples in the country on the lines of Vaishno Devi shrine.

This was conveyed to the states during the state touring ministers' conference on May 13, additional solicitor general (ASG) K K Sud informed a Bench comprising chief justice B C Patel and justice A K Sikri.

The Bench expressed concern over the present state of affairs in various temples, particularly about the money offered by devotees going to the priests.

"This is public money and it should be used to improve facilities for the devotees. Priests should be paid but they cannot keep the whole amount," the Bench observed.

After taking a suo motu action in the matter, the court had earlier sought reply from Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Delhi government about management of temples and sought to know if Boards could be constituted to look after the affairs of the temples on the lines of Vaishno Devi shrine.

The court had also asked Delhi government counsel V K Shali to seek instructions from the city government regarding its response on the matter and tell the court as to what steps had been taken regarding Hanuman temples in Connaught Place and Jamuna Bazar near Kashmiri Gate, Kalkaji Temple and Bhairon Temple of Old Fort near Delhi zoo.

However, Shali could not make it to the court on May 22 and the case would now be taken up for hearing on July 31.

PTI