Section 31 in The Orissa Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1951
31. Appointment of office-holders and servants in religious institutions.
(1)Vacancies, whether permanent or temporary, amongst the office-holders or servants of a religious institution shall be filled up by the trustee in cases where the office or service is not hereditary,(2)In cases where the office or service is hereditary the next in the line of succession shall be entitled to succeed.(3)Where however there is a dispute respecting the right of succession, orwhere such vacancy cannot be filled up immediately, orwhere the person entitled to succeed is a minor without a legally constituted guardian fit and willing to act as such, orwhere the hereditary office-holder or servant is suspended from his office under Sub-section (1) of Section 32;the trustee may appoint a fit person to discharge the functions of the office of perform the service, until the disability of the office-holder or servant ceases or another person succeeds to the office or service, as the case may be.Explanation - In making any appointment under this sub-section, the trustee shall have due regard to the claims of members of the family, if any, entitled to the succession.(4)Any person affected by an order of the trustee under Sub-section (3) may, within one month from the date of the receipt of the order by him, appeal against the order to the Assistant Commissioner whose order shall be final :Provided that no appeal shall be entertained unless the person affected by the order complies with it and makes over charge of his office or unless such a condition is waved by the Commissioner at his discretion.
