Judgment

SUBBA RAO, CJI. : This appeal by special leave raises the question whether a suit would lie at the instance of the present trustees of a temple for rendition of accounts of the management of the temple by the ex-trustees.

2. The appellant is Sri Vedagiri Lakshmi Narasimba Swami temple situated at Narasimhulykonda, Nellore taluk, in the State of Andhra Pradesh represented by its trustees. The respondent and two others were non-hereditary trustees of the said temple and functioned as such for a term of five years ending with January 1951. The respondent was the managing trustee during that period. The new trustees were appointed by order of the Hindu Religious Endowments Board dated January 21, l95l; but they were able to obtain possession of the temple only on July 21, 1952. They, representing the temple, filed O. S. No. 246 of 1953 in the Court of the Subordinate Judge, Nellore against the respondent- and others for the following three reliefs (1) to direct all or such of the defendants as may be found liable to render a true and proper account of their management of the temple and its properties since the date of their functioning as trustees and to pay over to the new trus