BALASUBRAMANYAN,J. - (1.) AN extent of 10. 38 acres of land, which was government land and situated around four temples, namely, Keelakottai Sri. Vinayagar Temple, Muthampatti Sri Vinayagar Temple, Mottakottai Sri Vinayagar Temple and Mariamman and Bhagavathiamman Temples were set apart by the British Government for the purpose of the use of its income for the poojas and maintenance of the temples.
(2.) THE land was put in the possession of one Veerana Pandaram, who was the poojari. Respondent Nos. 1 to 7 herein, the descendents of Veerana Pandaram filed a petition before the Deputy Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Madurai, under Section 63 of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 (hereinafter called the 'h. R and C. E. Act') praying that they may be declared as hereditary trustees cum poojaries of the Mariamman and Bhagavathiamman Temples. This application was made, when after an enquiry, a preliminary report was made by the Special Inspector, to the Assistant Commissioner of H. R and C. E. Administration Department, Madurai, to the effect that the lands endowed and belonging to the temples, are being enjoyed by the three poojaries, who render pooja services. The poojaries were taking the income, but were not maintaining any accounts. As various development works had to be done in the temple, the lands may be assessed to contribution from the concerned fasli. The Special Inspector also suggested that show cause notices be issued to the poojaries regarding the appointment of trustees for the temple.
(3.) IN their application, the successors of Veerana Pandaram prayed in terms of Section 63 (b) of the H. R and C. E. Act, that they and the three respondents to the said application, may be declared as hereditary trustees of both the temples, the office as hereditary and them as the trustees of Mariamman and Bhagavathiamman Temples. By order dated 4. 10. 1972, the Deputy Commissioner, H. R and C. E. Department, declared that the applicants before him are holding the office of trusteeship cum poojariship of Mariamman and Bhagavathiamman Temples at Keelakottai village, Dindigul Taluk, Madurai district hereditarily. No declaration was given regarding the rights of the applicants, since no court fee was paid for the grant of such a relief. Thus, the successors of Veerana Pandaram were recognized as trustees of the temples. Subsequently, the Settlement Tahsildar, Madurai passed an order on 31. 03. 1968 for issue of ryotwari pattas for lands covered by four title deeds referred to in that order, in favour of the four institutions represented by respondent Nos. 1 to 7.;