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2014 DIGILAW 4066 (MAD)

Dharmapuri District Taluk Bolanahalli Majara Samichettipatti Village People Represented by T. Palani v. K. Muniyappan

2014-10-30

B.RAJENDRAN

body2014
Judgment : 1. Second Appeal is filed against the judgment and decree of the learned Subordinate Judge, Dharmapuri, in A.S.No.36 of 2012, dated 17.02.2014, confirming the judgment and decree of the learned District Munsif, Dharmapuri, in O.S.No.92 of 2011, dated 09.07.2012. 2. Originally, the respondent herein/plaintiff has filed the suit in O.S.No.92 of 2011 before the learned District Munsif, Dharmapuri, for permanent injunction restraining the defendants from abstaining the plaintiff in any way from removing the broken parts of the buildings of suit Temple Mandapam, compound wall and the shops and renovate the same by way of new building and for costs. In the plaint, the plaintiff has averred that the suit property originally belonged to his ancestor and after the demise of his father, poojas and improvement of the Temple are done by the plaintiff. The Temple Mandapam and the compound walls including shops are in dilapidated condition and therefore, plaintiff attempted to renovate the same, which was restrained by defendants. Therefore, the plaintiff filed the suit for permanent injunction. The defendants filed written statement denying the averments made by the plaintiff in the plaint. According to the defendants, the Temple in suit property is maintained by public in general and is a public Temple and hence, the suit is barred by Section 6(2) of Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act (H.R.& C.E.Act). The trial Court after considering the oral and documentary evidence, decreed the suit as prayed for on 09.07.2012. Against which, the defendants filed an appeal in A.S.No. 36 of 2012 before the learned Subordinate Judge, Dharmapuri. The Lower Appellate Court dismissed the appeal, thereby, confirming the judgment and decree of the lower Court, by judgment dated 17.02.2014. Aggrieved against the concurrent finding, the defendants have come forward with the Second Appeal. 3. Mr.K.V.Babu, learned counsel appearing for the appellants/defendants would contend that the respondent/plaintiff has sought for the relief of permanent injunction alone, without seeking for the relief of declaration and therefore, the suit for injunction itself is not maintainable. He would further contend that the respondent/ plaintiff, who claims to be the absolute owner, cannot file a suit in his representative capacity. He would further add that the question as regards the Management of the Temple cannot be decided by the Civil Court. 4. He would further contend that the respondent/ plaintiff, who claims to be the absolute owner, cannot file a suit in his representative capacity. He would further add that the question as regards the Management of the Temple cannot be decided by the Civil Court. 4. The Second Appeal was not admitted, but, the respondent herein/plaintiff entered appearance through Caveator Mr.M.Jayachandran, who would submit that the plaintiff has filed the suit seeking to allow him to remove the broken parts of the buildings of suit Temple Mandapam, compound wall and the shops and renovate the same by way of new building, as the Temple Mandapam is in dilapidated condition. He would further add that the Lower Court, while decreeing the suit has categorically held that the plaintiff and his predecessor-in-title are in Management of the Temple, which came to be confirmed by the Lower Appellate Court. He would further add that both Courts below have cagegorically held that the defendants were not in the Management of the Temple and therefore, he would contend that the plaintiff should not be prohibited from removing the debris and putting up the new construction. 5. Heard both sides. By consent, the Second Appeal itself is taken up for final disposal. 6. The questions of law raised in the grounds of the Second Appeal are as follows:- “1. Whether suit for injunction is maintainable when relief of declaration is not sought for? 2. Whether Civil Courts have the jurisdiction to decide the question of management and nature of a Temple by way of civil suit? 3. Whether a person who claims absolute ownership over Temple can file suit in representative capacity?”. 7. The fact remains that both Courts below have categorically held that the plaintiff and his predecessor-in-title are in Management of the Temple. In fact, the plea of the plaintiff before the lower Court is only to allow him to remove the broken parts of the buildings of suit Temple Mandapam, compound wall and the shops and renovate the same by way of new building. Further more, both Courts below have categorically held that the defendants were not in the Management of the Temple, but, the defendants were permitted to participate in the Temple function and to worship in the Temple. To that extent, the plaintiff also has got no objection. 8. Further more, both Courts below have categorically held that the defendants were not in the Management of the Temple, but, the defendants were permitted to participate in the Temple function and to worship in the Temple. To that extent, the plaintiff also has got no objection. 8. Now, the learned counsel for the respondent/plaintiff would only contend that the plaintiff should not be prohibited from removing the broken parts of the buildings of suit Temple Mandapam, compound wall and the shops and renovate the same by way of new building. At this juncture, though, an attempt was made by the learned counsel appearing for the appellants/defendants by contending that the question of Management of the Temple has to be decided first, in fact, on a perusal of the judgments of Courts below, it is seen that both Courts below have concurrently held that the defendants are not in Management of the Temple. In fact, P.W.3-Panchayat Union President, who belongs to the particular community of the defendants, has been examined, who has categorically admitted that it is the plaintiff and their family members, who are in Management of the Temple, coupled with the fact D.W.2-Tahsildar also admitted that the defendants have not produced any documents to show that they are in the Management of the Temple and therefore, both Courts below have rightly held that the plaintiff is entitled for the relief of injunction, but, the relief was restricted to the extent that the defendants were injuncted from disturbing the plaintiff from removing the broken parts of the buildings of suit Temple Mandapam, compound wall and the shops and renovate the same by way of new building. 9. Learned counsel for the respondent/plaintiff also brought to the notice of this Court that subsequently a Peace Committee Meeting was organised and the Collector also addressed a letter to the Assistant Commissioner (H.R.&C.E.), who in turn vide communication in Na.Ka.No.3137/2012/A8/dated 03.12.2012 has stated that the Temple does not come under the control of H.R.&C.E. Department. 10. In any view of the matter, the right of the appellants/defendants to participate in the Temple function and to worship in the Temple is not in any way denied by the plaintiff and the same is recorded. This Court finds that there is no question of law much less any substantial question of law involved in the Second Appeal. 10. In any view of the matter, the right of the appellants/defendants to participate in the Temple function and to worship in the Temple is not in any way denied by the plaintiff and the same is recorded. This Court finds that there is no question of law much less any substantial question of law involved in the Second Appeal. Hence, I do not find any reason to interfere with the judgment and decree of the Lower Appellate Court, dated 17.02.2014. The Second Appeal is dismissed. No costs.