Madras High Court
Muthu And Anr. vs Gangathara on 3 February, 1893
Equivalent citations: (1894)ILR 17MAD95
JUDGMENT
1. The first contention raised by the appellants, both at the grant of sanction and at the hearing of the suit, was that the provisions of Act XX of 1863 do not apply to the plaint temple. The District Judge overruled this objection, on the ground that it was not denied that the public have a right of service in the plaint temple.
2. The suit was disposed of without taking any evidence, and we can find no note of the Judge or anything else on the record to show that any such admission was made. On the contrary, the second paragraph of the written statement commences with a denial that the temple is a common place of worship, either for plaintiff or other Kammalas or for other Hindu castes. It does not appear that the trustees were nominated by or subject to the confirmation of the Government or any public officer. Unless, therefore, the endowment was one which would have fallen under the provisions of Regulation VII of 1817, it will not fall under the provisions of Act XX of 1863. See Fakurudin Sahib v. Ackeni Sahib I.L.R. 2 Mad. 197 and Jan Ali v. Bam Nath Mundal I.L.R. 8 Cal. 32. We do not think this case can be disposed of without recording evidence. We must, therefore, set aside the decree of the District Judge and remand the suit for rehearing. The costs will follow the result.