V. RAMASWAMI, J. :- In Mayuram, Thanjavur District, there is a Droupathy Amman temple with other subsidiary deities stated to have been founded by the ancestors of the parties to this litigation more than a century and a half ago. In and around this temple, there has been large extent of open ground, which, in the course of time and by reason of its situation abutting the main road, became valuable and is now stated to be fetching a good income. The temple and its affairs were in the management of eight families. One family is stated to have become extinct long long ago. There were disputes and civil proceedings in courts between the families regarding the management of the temple and its properties. By 1894, there were only seven families, which were entitled to the management. Six of the families filed O. S. No. 379 of 1894 on the file of the Court of the District Munsif, Mayuram, against one Kuppuswami Padayachi representing the seventh family to establish their right to turn management. The dispute was referred to arbitration and in terms of the award made by the arbitrator, a decree was passed on 28-2-1895 in that suit. The award specified that each of the families sh