Periyanan Servai and Others vs Mahadevan Ambalam and Others

Ramesam, J.—The suit is to establish plaintiffs'' right to two dignities in connexion with a temple. They were to be observed during a car

festival before the dragging of the car. They consist in the receipt of a cocoanut and breaking it near the idol on each occasion and were described

as Natter cocoanut and Ambalam cocoanut. In themselves they are not of a substantial value. Unless they are attached to some office, the suit is

not maintainable. The Subordinate Judge finds that the office now mentioned in the plaint as the offices to which the dignities are attached never

existed. The defendants say that the dignities are attached to the office of decking the car. This is disbelieved by the Subordinate Judge. Neither

side mentions any offices in the pleadings in the former suit, O.S. No. 150 of 1903 on the file of the Court of the District Munsif of Sivaganga, in

which the positions of the parties were reversed (Exs. 8and 8-C; see also Ex. P). We agree with the findings of the Subordinate Judge.

It is next urged that the suit is maintainable because a right to worship in a particular manner is claimed. A general right to worship is not denied

by the defendants and is not in question. A special kind of worship, to which some dignity is attached, but no emoluments of value are attached

cannot be the subject of a suit in a civil Court. To this extent we do not agree with the decision in Thirumalai Alwar Aiyangar v. Srinivasa Chariar

1917 Mad 903. We are not to be understood as agreeing with the observations of the Subordinate Judge as to the ownership of the temple being

in the Chettiar or any other persons. We leave the matter open. The appeal is dismissed with costs.