Judgment

S.B. Sinha, J.—

Background Fact :

Sri Krishna Temple situated at Guruvayoor is one of the most famous temples in the world. The history and legends of the temple are inti­mately linked with great saints like Villwamangalam Swamiyar, Melpa­thur, the author of Narayaneeyam, Poonthanam and Kururamma. The temple attracts millions of devotees from all over the world. Zamorin Raja and the Karanavan of the Mallissery Illom were the hereditary trustees of the temple. Disputes and differences arose between the Zamorin Raja and the Karanavan of the Illom mainly about Orrayma rights which were ultimately determined by a judgment of the Madras High Court in A.S. No. 35/1887 on 1.11.1980.

2. After the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1926 came into force, a scheme for administration of the Temple and its properties was framed in terms whereof the Zamorin Raja was en­trusted with the management of the Temple under the supervision of the officers of the Board. The Karanavan of the Mallissery Illom thereupon filed O.S. No. 1 of 1929 before the District Court of South-Malabar.

3. The worshippers of the Temple also filed O.S. No. 2 of 1929 in the same court praying for frami