Veeraswami, C.J.- The Court of Subordinate Judge of Thanjavur at Mayurarn, in O.S. No. 14 of 1919, settled a scheme for management of Sri Viswanathaswami temple of Devanoor village. A Board of Trustees was constituted under this scheme which inter alia provided that, if any vacancy occurred by death or resignation or removal, it should be filled up by the majority of the resident villagers of Deveanoor. In 1961, three persons were elected by the residents, of whom one Veeramuthu Padayachi was the managing trustee. He died in February, 1961 and it was said that, on 5th March, 1961, the first respondent was elected in that vacancy. The other two trustees relinquished office due to old age and the Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, appointed respondents 2 to 5 as trustees of the temple. Alagiriswami, J., quashed this order. The learned Judge took the view that, so long as the scheme stood unamended, the Assistant Commissioner had no power to appoint any trustees of the temple. He was also of the view that section 118 (2) (b) (ii) could not be relied on by the Assistant Commissioner, as it was irrelevant to the consideration of the question that arose in the case. Hence this appeal by the Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments.

2. It seems to us that the view of the learned Judge as to the application of section 118 (2) (b) (ii) cannot be sustained. Section 118 is one of the transitional provisions. At the time the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act was enacted, there were scheme; settled by the erstwhile Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board and also by Courts under section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The 1950 Act and 1959 Act brought about drastic changes in the control and administration of temples and specific endowments. The power to appoint trustees for temples, both listed and non-listed, was vested in the Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, and the period for which they could function is also fixed. The schemes which were settled by Court, provided for appointment of trustees by it or by election or by other means, recognised by custom or usage. In view of this, the transitional provisions in Chapter XII were enacted, in order that uniformity could be achieved. Clauses (i) and (ii) of section 118 (2) (b) go together. The first of them deals with repugnancy between any provision in any scheme settled or deemed to have been settled, in the present case under section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and in force immediately before 30th September, 1951, and the provision relating to the particular matter in the Act. In such an event, clause (i) of section 118 (2) (b) declares that the provision in the scheme shall be void to the extent of repugnancy and pro tanto the corresponding provision in the Act will prevail. Clause (ii) is the consequential provision. By enactment of section 47 relating to appointment of trustees, the elective principle applied to the constitution of a committee of trustees has been done away with. The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act is intended to be a comprehensive code which amended and consolidated the law relating to the administration and governance of Hindu Religious and Charitable Institutions and Endowments in the State of Tamil Nadu, so that, notwithstanding the provisions of the Act, it is not possible to hold that, even after the coming into force of the Act, trustees of temples could be appointed by election. There being a specific provision in the Act, namely, section 47, for appointment of trustees to temples and the power to make the appointment being vested in the authority named by the section, the provision in the scheme in this case to elect trustees is repugnant and, therefore, that provision is void. If it is void and the provision in the Act is to prevail, then it becomes clear that there is no longer any sc

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