1. This appeal is by the plaintiff, who is the Karnavan of a Nambudiri Illom, called Venmani Illom, and arises in a suit to set aside a decision of the respondent, the Cochin Devaswom Board, that Sree Bhoothapuram Koottale temple or Kottale temple, or the temple for short, situated in Paralam Village in Trichur Taluk, is an institution as defined in S.61 sub-section (6) of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950. According to the plaintiff, this temple is a Keezhedom or a subsidiary shrine of Sree Bhoothapuram temple in Thekkumbhagom Village, both of which are private temples and are owned by his Illom. One Govinda Kaimal was the karyastha of the temple under the Illom till his death in the year 1124. After his death there were disputes and civil and criminal cases between the Illom and Govinda Kaimal's relations and feelings were estranged between them. While so, it was alleged, that at the instance of Kunju Kaimal and Raman Nair who are the sons-in-law of Govinda Kaimal, a petition, Ext. D1 dated the 17th August, 1951, was submitted to the respondent for taking over the management of the temple and properties. The respondent contended that the tem