The Judgment was delivered by :

This Second Appeal is directed against the judgment of the learned District Judge, Madurai in A. S. No. 231 of 1984 in reversing the judgment of the learned District Munsif, Ramanathapuram, in O. S. No. 311 of 1980. The defendant in the suit is the appellant in the above Second Appeal.

2. The plaintiffs filed the suit for recovery of a sum of Rs. 5, 000/- towards damages arising out of alleged defamation, mental agony and medical expenses. According to them they belong to Muslim community and are members of the Periapatnam Jamath. Jalal Jamal Pallivasal in Periapatnam is under the administration of Jamath. It is under the administration and management of the Jamath. Memebers of Jamath would elect a committee and the present committee consisting of 11 members was functioning from 3-8-1978. Though the committee was unregistered from time immemorial, the committee was administering the Pallivasal and its properties. The first defendant is the Secretary of the Committee. The first plaintiff is a very well to do person at Periapatnam and plaintiffs 2 to 5 are his sons. All of them are well educated and held in high esteem and respect among all t