The Second Appeals have been filed against the common judgment and decree, dated 18. 1995, made in A.S.Nos.39 and 40 of 1995, on the file of the District Court, South Arcot Vallalar District, Cuddalore, confirming the common judgment and decree, dated 38. 1994, on the file of the Sub-Court, Chidambram, made in O.S.No.94 of 1989 and O.S.No.30 of 1990.

2. Since both the second appeals are relating to the same issues and are based on common facts, they are taken up together and a common Judgment is passed.

3. The defendant in the suitsO.S.No.94 of 1989 and O.S.No.30 of 1990, is the appellant herein.

4. The brief facts leading to the filing of the suit in O.S.No.94 of 1989, are as follows:-

The defendant temple is one of the important shrines in Chidambaram Town and the plaintiffs father Ponnambalam Pillai was the Sthanikam Mirasi holder of the temple and his right was upheld in O.S.No.73 of 1943, in which the defendant and The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department were parties. The decree made in the said suit is final and binding on them. The plaintiffs father had died in the month of October, 1984, and the plaintiffs had become the Hereditary Stha