1. This suit relates to the Kaipancheri Vishnu Temple situated in the Nedumpura Village, a village in the Cochin State portion of the Travancore-Cochin State. The plaintiff is the karnavan of the Pazhur Mana, Panayalikara, to which according to him the temple and its properties were entrusted in 1041 M.E. in pursuance of a Theettooram of His Highness the Maharaja of Cochin.

2. The defendant is the Cochin Devaswom Board, Trichur and the immediate cause of the suit is the decision of the Board under S. 114 of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950, to the effect that the temple is an 'institution' as defined in Part II of that Act. After some discussion at the Bar the issues for decision as far as this court is concerned were settled as follows:

1. Does the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950, offend Art. 14 of the Constitution?

2. Is the Devaswom Board a local or other authority within the meaning of Art.12 of the Constitution?

3. Is the right of the plaintiff to be an Ooralan "Property" within the meaning of Art. 19(1)(f) of the Constitution?

4. Do Ss. 63 and 64 of the Act offend Arts. 14,15(1),19(1)(f) & (g) and 26 of the Constitu