K.S. Govinda Pillai, J.

The plaintiff is the appellant. The suit was for declaration of title to and recovery of possession of the plaint property, the extent of which as mentioned in the plaint, is about 50 acres. The plaintiff is the lessee of a large tract of land lying within the Poonjar Edavagai and belonging to the Poovarani Devaswom. The Devaswom belongs to a Mutt, the head of which was the 9th defendant, who died subsequent to the suit and he was succeeded by the 13th defendant. At the time of the institution of the suit, the Poonjar Chief was the 11th defendant and after his death, he was succeeded by the additional 14th defendant. The 10th defendant is the Vanjipuzha Chief, whose Edavagai lands lie adjoining the Poonjar Edavagai. Defendants 1 and 2 were the sub-lessees of the plaintiff and they were said to be in possession of certain portions of the plaint property. After the institution of the suit, the plaintiff had compromised his disputes with the 2nd defendant and so, the 2nd defendant had no further interest in the plaint property. The 15th defendant is the State, impleaded in the case at a later stage on account of the contention of some of the parties t